Gor Mahia came from two goals down to force a two-all draw against AFC Leopards’ in an entertaining derby played at Kasarani on Sunday.
AFC Leopards had led for an hour of the match but a great comeback from Gor Mahia ensured they picked a vital point.
Noah Wafula gave Ingwe the lead in the first half before Paul Were’s sublime finish in the 50th minute made it two. But Dan Sserunkuma scored Gor’s first goal before David Owino ‘Calabar’ picked a point for K’Ogalo.
Gor Mahia started the tie very well taking command of the match. Dan Sserunkuma should have scored with barely 100 seconds gone on the clock but Erick Masika saved the day for Ingwe.
The Ugandan had successfully blocked a clearance from keeper Patrick Matasi and was at hand to bungle the ball home but Masika arrived in time to clear the mess.
On the quarter hour mark, Mungai Kiongera had a great chance to put Gor ahead but he was unlucky. He picked up a through ball from Erick Ochieng, taking a shot but Matasi saved it. He had a second bite of the cherry but was unlucky again with his shot hitting the bar, coming back to him. His third shot went off an AFC Leopards defender and out of the area.
However, AFC Leopards, who seemed lost from the first whistle, started coming back into the match as their confidence grew. Abdallah Juma had a shot go just wide in the 28th minute after playing a one-two with Allan Wanga.
However, they would get the lead on 33 minutes through Noah Wafula who tapped in a cross from Allan Wanga. Wanga had raced onto a ball from Peter Opiyo on the right before releasing it first time for the racing Wafula who hid it in Jerry Onyango’s far right corner.
Leopards grew in stature and Edwin Seda almost doubled their lead four minutes later but his shot went just wide.
Leopards picked up in the second period with the same speed they had left off in the first half. Just five minutes onto the clock, Paul Were doubled the advantage with a crisp left foot shot. Were had broken through on the right from Martin Imbalambala’s pass, taking one touch and curling past Jerry Onyango.
With the second goal, Coach Bobby Williamson sought to reshuffle his side, taking off Solomon Nasio and bringing in Musa Mohammed. Musa moved to left back with David Owino returning to his usual right back position.
That seemed to stabilize the K’Ogalo ship and on 61 minutes, they got the much needed goal through Danny Sserunkuma. Keeper Patrick Matasi had gone for a high ball but Moses Odhiambo beat him to it, but his header went off the bar. However, Sserunkuma was at hand to bang the pieces home.
The goal seemed to increase Gor’s adrenaline and they were constantly on attack with more than 30 minutes left. Leopards too never relented in their quest to stretch their lead and Wafula had a fierce shot hit the side netting after turning David Owino.
Gor pressed upwards with Edwin Lavatsa and Kelvin Omondi coming in to add the spice in attack. Gor never gave up and they were rewarded five minutes to the end, David Owino banging home with a left foot swinger after the AFC defense poorly defended a corner from Moses Odhiambo.
The draw now gives the advantage to the chasing pack as Gor failed to stretch their lead at the top of the standings.
