After a shaky start to the season, Gor Mahia look to have reignited their mojo, stringing two wins in a row before the festive break that left them in third position, three points off the leaders KCB FC.In an exhibition match, to mark the grand opening of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Stadium in Siaya, Gor Mahia took on Ugandan outfit Kitara United in a tough 60-minute match.In this brief tactical analysis piece we set out to understand how interim coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno set out his side and his gameplan.Gor Mahia lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Kevin Omondi starting between the sticks.TACTICAL ANALYSIS: Gor Mahia’s Austin Odhiambo, scouting report, heat map and key passes dataThe defence consisted of Levin Odhiambo, Sylvester Owino, Alphonse Omija and Rooney Onyango.Lawrence Juma and Rodgers Ouma were the double pivot in the midfield, with club captain Austin Odhiambo given the number 10 role in front.Congolese striker Gideon Bendeka, Shariff Musa and Samuel Kapen took their places in the front three.##NAJAVA_MECA_8609912##Gor Mahia’s defensive planIt was evident from the start that Gor Mahia would not allow Kitara to quickly progress possession.Bendeka led the press with Austin behind him in a 1-1 early on, looking to force Kitara to one side and prevent them from playing the ball into the middle of the pitch. As illustrated in the screengrabThe midfield four were incredibly compact with Austin and Bendeka doing a good job in screening Kitara’s deep- lying playmakers.Kitara’s lack of success in central areas was a great indicator of how well Gor Mahia were stiffling their opposition’s chances of infiltrating their defensive structure.Gor Mahia reacted superbly anytime Kitara got a sniff of progress through the middle of the park.How former Harambee Stars captain Musa Otieno is spreading gospel through footballAs the ball travelled to a player between the lines, Gor Mahia’s midfield pivot of Lawrence Juma and Rodgers Ouma played with incredible aggression to prevent forward passes.Kitara therefore were left with the option of either playing around or over Gor Mahia. Utilizing their strengths in wide areas to arrive in the final third and cross. Gor Mahia did however appear to limit the Kitara wide attacks well.In possession, Gor Mahia had a clear game plan. The backline would pass the ball square or into the feet of a midfielder dropping deep.##NAJAVA_MECA_8609917##Their shape was usually a 3+1 from the backline with Levin high as the offensive left back and the right side pinned by Rooney Onyango (right back) or Samuel Kapen (right-winger)The match was spent with majorly Gor Mahia in possession (3-1-3-3) looking to find their advanced players between the lines but Kitara defended in a 4-2-3-1/4-1-4-1 and looking to cause pressure by jumping in their first line of pressure.As the game wore on, Gor Mahia looked to take the game by the scruff of its neck, they now pressed intently from the front and looked to regain possession high in a now 4-1 3-2.How Benni McCarthy’s expected appointment is a blessing to Harambee StarsThey now looked to play through their opponents with line-splitting passes and trying to take them out of the game. Austin to Bendeka, a good example and substitute Musa Masika to Rooney Onyango to launch a late attack from the right.Kitara however stood firm and managed to hold on even as substitute Paul Ochuoga had an opportunity to cut back a pass from Rooney Onyango to tilt the game in their favour with Austin primed to tap in.The match, after 60 minutes plus added time went to penalties where Gor Mahia won 9-8, Gad Mathews sloting his penalty home before Kitara’s captain and goalkeeper, who had been immense in the shootout saw his low effort to the left of the goal go off the post.##NAJAVA_MECA_8609945##This sparked wild celebrations from the hugely partisan crowd.This game meant everything to the Gor Mahia supporters who finally managed to see their team and their heroes in flesh. As coach Zico looked to impose his playing style in the side.
