Gor Mahia sealed a place in next year’s CAF Confederation Cup after ousting bitter rivals AFC Leopards 4-1 on post-match penalties to make the occasion at Nyayo National Stadium even better. It must be said that it was an underwhelming match that did not meet the usual expectations of a derby with the game only witnessing five shots on target, three for Gor and two for Ingwe.We take a look at how the players performed in the match.Gor MahiaGad Mathews -8.5Man of the match. Save for a well-placed Elvis Rupia shot that hit the crossbar on the 5th minute, the Gor goalkeeper was largely untested in the match. However, when called upon in the post-match penalties, he saved two out of three penalties to hand Gor their first cup victory since 2013 and send the most decorated Kenyan club to continental football.Gad Mathews the keeper ‘himselfu’ 👏👏#Sirkal | #Betsafe pic.twitter.com/Hs1Ivpi0ny— ⚽️GOR MAHIA FC (@OfficialGMFC) July 4, 2021 Geoffrey Ochieng – 6’Simiti’ as they call him won all his duels in the left back position with his idiosyncratic tough tackling and well-timed challenges. Made sure a stubborn and tricky Harrison Mwendwa did not cause any harm to the Gor backline with his explosive pace on the wings.Yeeeeees…… and we are through to CAF Confed Cup after beating AFC Leopards in post match penalties. #Sirkal | #Betsafe | #MashemejiDerby pic.twitter.com/TE9SriYWsh— ⚽️GOR MAHIA FC (@OfficialGMFC) July 4, 2021 Harun Shakava – 5Gor Mahia changed tactic in the second half as they hit long balls behind the Ingwe defense hoping to use Tito Okello’s pace to effect. He was the launching pad for the long balls and he hit them well from back to front.He however had a contentious moment that would have cost Gor when he brought down Elvis Rupia in the box for what looked like a penalty but the referee waved play on.Charles Momanyi – 4Was largely untested and stayed quite throughout the game.Frank Odhiambo – 5Played in an unfamiliar right back position and still did well in the absence of Philemon Otieno who was red carded. Was always confident on the ball with his dribbling from defense into midfield. Also made a number of intelligent foward runs that earned Gor three corner kicks.Ernest Wendo – 4Was bypassed in the middle of the park as the ball was played either on the flanks or long balls.Kenneth Muguna – 4Save for a couple of his cute balls in the middle of the park, Muguna did not make his presence felt with the killer passes and vision he is known for.Clifton Miheso – 4Only flashes in the game as he, more than once, failed to win his one on one challenges against the opposition, something he normally excels at.Karim Abdoul – 3Deployed as a creative 10, the midfielder failed to create any opportunities in the game. Difficult to notice his presence.Match update | 71’ Karim booked. AFC 0-0 Gor Mahia #Sirkal | #Betsafe | #MashemejiDerby pic.twitter.com/5hmpij1Rmu— ⚽️GOR MAHIA FC (@OfficialGMFC) July 4, 2021 John Macharia – 3Never had a chance to effect the game. Subbed off in the 72nd minute for Sammy Onyango.Tito Okello – 3Word is that he only trained on Saturday after jetting back in the country on Friday. And it showed. Had a frustrating day in office, to a point the limited fans in the stadium called for his substitution.Champions 🏆🤩@OfficialGMFC #FKFCupFinals pic.twitter.com/kjmVCWnMUB— FKF Betway Cup (@FKFCup) July 4, 2021 SubstitutionsSammy Onyango – 3AFC LeopardsJohn Oyemba – 4Had a quite stay in goal as Gor failed to test him between the sticks.Lewis Bandi – 4The youngster did not have too much defensive work to do but was always at the right place at the right time either going forward or defending.Isaac Kipyegon – 4Had a quite day in the office as well as Senaji took care of the duels.Clyde Senaji – 5Always alert. Was never outsmarted to any challenge. Kept Tito Okello in check with good marshaling of the ball whenever Gor tried to play direct. Had a good game.Collins Shivachi – 4Never go any real test in the game the right back.Said Tsuma – 5Played well in the defensive midfield position. Always looked calm and assured on the ball as he delivered key penetrating passes from a deep position in the park.Collins Shichenje – 4Largely restricted and as such never caused any threat in the game with his marauding late runs in the box. His aerial threat was also nullified by the towering Gor defenders.Brian Wanyama – 4Was a surprise seeing him in a Mashemeji Derby starting lineup. Played careful football, nothing too fancy especially with the understandable pressure of the game.TEAM NEWS Brian Bwire Wanyama makes his first start in his first ever #MashemejiDerbyEzekiel Owade starts off the bench #Betsafe #FKFCupFinals #OursForever #INGWE pic.twitter.com/x2YESSw6j7— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) July 4, 2021 Austin Odhiambo – 3Normally, Ingwe’s creative genius. Was always calling for the ball and moved into cute pockets of space. Always looked forward and tried to make things happen. The big surprise was him being subbed off for Peter Thiong’o in the 54th minute much to his frustration.Harrison Mwendwa – 3Did not have any threat on the wing as Geoffrey Ochieng won all the battles on the left wing. Subbed off in the 71st minute for Hansel Ochieng’Elvis Rupia – 5Was the liveliest player for Ingwe and looked the most likely player to register anything for them. Rattled the crossbar just five minutes in and kept trying. In as much as he was the liveliest, his wayward finishing let Gor off the hook a number of times. Will feel hard done by a penalty decision.Substitutes(Hansel Ochieng, Washington Munene, Ezekiel Owade)
