Reality test awaits Kenyan giants Gor Mahia in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League as will they face holders Al Ahly of Egypt. This follows a 5-1 win over El Merreikh Bentiu of South Sudan in the second leg of the preliminary round at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday. Gor had lost the first leg, staged last weekend at Juba Stadium, by a solitary goal and needed nothing short of a big win in Nairobi to guarantee them a date with Ahly. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8291049##The record African champions, were handed a bye in the preliminary round alongside; last season’s losing finalists Esperance, former champions TP Mazembe, Angolan giants Petro Atletico and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa. Before Gor can start plotting on how they will navigate past the Ahly hurdle, the team will obviously be pleasee with how it turned around the preliminary round into their favour. K’Ogalo had to do it the hard considering the loss in Juba and the fact that Merreikh were the fastest off the blocks at Nyayo. What looked an harmless ball on the left flank would bear the opening goal, in the seventh minute, after Geoffrey Ochieng failed to deal with it decisively, allowing Michael Pouk to whipped it in. At hand to make the connection was Samuel Akinbinu, who tapped in from close range even though his initial attempt had been palmed by goalkeeper Kevin Omondi. Posta Rangers set to sign Ksh10 million shirt sponsorship dealThe goal was all what Gor needed to wake up from the sluggish start and would restore parity in the eleventh minute through Chris Ochieng who lobbed the ball past the Merreikh goalkeeper yards off box. Ochieng had wittingly spotted Merreikh custodian, Juma Amuk, off his line and would expertly lob the ball over him, drawing Gor level in the process. The high press from Gor bore fruits in the 20th minute as Alpha Onyango connected a low cross from Paul Ochuoga, to give his side the second goal. Aware that the tie was still on their favour,considering the away goal Merreikh had scored, Gor continued to ask more questions with a view of turning into their hands before the half time whistle. That came to pass in the 35th minute when Alphonce Omija headed, a free kick delivered by Austin Odhiambo, from close range. Ababu Namwamba: Why corporates avoid sponsoring Kenyan sportsWith everything in control, Gor had the freedom to showcase a touch of Samba in the second half, dominating in possession and toying around with Merreikh. It wasn’t lost on them that a goal by Merreikh would complicate their chances of making it to the next round and had to look for an extra goal to seal it. Although they created clear cut chances and dominated, Gor had to be patient enough for the fourth goal that came in the 80th minute through Rooney Onyango. The versatile player, who was playing as an offensive, made up for the first leg miss with a well taken goal, from the left after Samuel Kapen put him through. Onyango, who missed the first leg as his passport was still in custody of the Italian Embassy, drove the ball to the left of the fully-stretching Amuk to take the tie out of Merreikh’s sight. Onyango would add the fifth in the dying seconds of the match, converting a cross by Philemon Otieno
