Gor Mahia storm into CECAFA Kagame Cup finals
Gor Mahia weathered an early Al Khartoum strom to march into the 2015 CECAFA Kagame Cup finals, for the first time since their 1985 cup victory in Omdurman, rallying back to emerge 3-1 winners at the National Stadium - Dar-es-Salaam on Friday aftrnoon.
Two quickfire goal from Michael Olunga and Innocent Wafula ensured Gor Mahia stepped back into the game and go into the break leading 2-1 the opening semi-final contest against Al Khartoum.
Gor Mahia went down to a 1st minute goal by Amin Elmani after the striker pounced on a deflection off Nizigiyimana to beat Bonface Oluoch with a calm execution to the top right corner, and the opponets went ahead to command the opening sessions of the first half.
But Gor Mahia gradually came into the match and were unstoppable in their onslaught. Innocent Wafula's shot in the 13th minute found the side netting after a heavily marked Olunga had turned to set up the winger. Three minutes later, Meddie Kagere's header infront of an empty net hit the post after Walusimbi had headed the ball back from a long Nizigiyimana cross to the far post.
Then Abouba Sibomana was fouled on the left by Samawal Meghrani, the Al Khartoum defender picking a caution for his dirty work and Gor Mahia winning a free kick. The delivery from the set piece was headed away only to strike a hand in the Al Khartoum box and a penalty was awarded in favour of Gor Mahia.
Olunga stepped up and pulled the tie back on level with a powerful strike from the spot in the 24th minute. He was at the heart of the attack barely a minute later after winning back possession from the restart and with three defenders closing him down on the deep right, he picked the oncoming Wafula who struck a beauty to the near past the dive of Mohammed Abdalla into the back of the net for Gor Mahia's second goal of the match.
Al Khartoum threatedn in the 36th minute but Ousmaila Baba coulld not control the ball after Harun Shakava had shot up but failed to head a long ball played in from the midfielder. The opposition kept fighting, they superbly kept possession of the ball and made the Gor Mahia defense and midfield work extra hard to keep their lead going into the break.
The opening minutes of the second half just like it was in the first was all about Al Khartoum's command. But it was Gor Mahia who made their efforts count on the opposite goal side in the 55th minute. Godfrey Walusimbi had worked hard to keep possession deep down the left wing to feed Abouba Sibomana who delivered a high and long cross into the area. Olunga was lurking in the area and instinctively waiting on a defensive blunder and goalkeeper Mohammed Abdalla failed to lick the ball.
Olunga picked it up to shoot towards the empty net but a defender had raced back to block his effort only as far as the goal racing Meddie Kagere whopounced on the second chance to double Gor Mahia's lead. The rest of the second half would be a narrative of missed chances as both sides missed great chances to add more goals to the scoresheet.
Al Khartoum won committed numbers forward and pressed high and won a series of free kicks, with Khalid Aucho being the main culprit in the give aways always firing high and over. On Gor Mahia's case, Walusimbi fired a 72nd minute effort wide and Olunga had a shot saved by Abdalla after Kagere set him through five minutes later.
Bonface Oluoch was called into action diving low to save a connecting header after a delivery had come from a set piece down the right channel in the 86th minute.
The victory sees Coach Nutall's charges march into the 2015 CECAFA Kagame cup finals unbeaten as they seek to bring the regional inter club tittle back home for the first time since 1985.
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