Defending champions Gor Mahia kick-started their quest of once again lifting the Mozzart Bet Cup on a positive note as they managed to see off resilient Division One side Kibera Soccer 0-1 in a hard fought Round of 32 encounter staged at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Sunday afternoon.Having gone into the game on the back of a stunning 2-1 defeat against Mathare United in their last league clash that took place midweek, Lloyd Khavuchi, who was substituted in the 27th minute in that match, redeemed himself as he scored the solitary goal that proved to be the match winner for the record cup holders.It is a match that only got off to one sequence as Gor dominated the opening exhanges with loads of possession that lacked clinicality as Kibera resorted to keeping their shape and forcing something special out of the Jonathan McKinstry coached side.After a drab opening half hour, dreadlocked John Macharia managed to produce the magical moment in the game as he put through Khavuchi on goal with a defense splitting through pass that left the attacker only needing to guide the ball to the back of the net, which he did as he poked the ball beneath the scrambling keeper to give his side the lead.Seemingly relieved by the opener, Gor showed no signs of being in a hurry as they comfortably chose to knock the ball around without the initial pressure of breaking the deadlock.Just before the half time break, the trailing Kibera came close to finding the equalizer as they hit Gor on the counter but their determined efforts just came short as the alert Caleb Omondi played the sweeper keeper role to spare his side’s blushes as they kept the narrow lead into the break.Kibera looked a much more invigorated side in the second half as they came out of their shells and took the game to Gor Mahia.While they caused problems with their much improved ball retention and occasional breaking on the counter, their main undoing remained to be finishing as their attempts lacked the cutting edge to beat Omondi in between the sticks.Edu came the closest to restoring parity for the third tier side with his freekick but Omondi just tipped the ball over the net to once again maintain his side’s lead.Despite looking like the side that would likely get the next goal, Austin Odhiambo almost hit them with the suckerpunch as his curling attempt in the last minute of normal time was only deflected out for a corner following the narrowest of touches from the keeper.That proved to be the final meaningful moment as the game ended in Gor’s favour.
