In what was billed as a weekend that could have major ramifications on the title charge, second-placed Gor Mahia (then) locked horns with Kenya Police FC. Coming to the business end of the season, Gor Mahia know that all they have to do is win all their remaining games and they would become champions, attaining that much coveted CAF Champions League spot.In this articles we set out to look at how Gor Mahia and Kenya Police FC set out tactically especially on Gor Mahia and how their prowess qualitatively seemed a tad too much for Kenya Police FC, who do not be mistaken are also a very quality side.Team Line upsGor Mahia set up in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation, looking to lie on being clinical in all phases of the game. In goal was Gad Mathews with the centre back partnership of Emery Bayisenge and Dennis Njire, the fullback positions were tasked with the experienced duo of Philemon Otieno and Geoffrey Ochieng. In midfield were Alpha Onyango and Ernest Wendo with Austin Odhiambo playing in the no.10 position. Out on the flanks were the ever dangerous Peter Lwasa and Bonface Omondi, with Benson Ochieng Omalla leading the line.Kenya Police FC set up in a 1-4-2-3-1 structure with their principles of creating overloads in the central areas and wide overloads too. In goal was Job Ochieng with Musa Mohammed and David Ochieng in the centre back spots, Baraka Badi and David Owino in the fullback positions. In midfield were the impressive former AFC Leopards Cubs player Charles Ouma and the hard tackling former AFC Leopards midfielder Marvin Nabwire. Duke Abuya, Francis Kahata and David Okoth formed the three behind main man Elvis Rupia.##NAJAVA_MECA_7198458##Kenya Police FC looked to press in a narrow 1-4-1-3-2 shape with the wide forwards positioning themselves narrow but ready to jump on the opposing fullbacks, Elvis Rupia and Duke Abuya looked to go man for man on the centre backs with Marvin Nabwire pushing up to shadow Gor Mahia’s first phase build up midfielder. The backline pushed up and looked to hold a highline behind Charles Ouma who was sweeping in front of the backline. Gor Mahia looked to build up from low with Emery Bayisenge and Denis Njire splitting each side of Gad Mathews. McKinstry lauds K’Ogalo team spirit after completing season double over Kenya PoliceWith the impeccable Police FC press Gor Mahia would look to play long balls into the channels for the willing runs of Bonface Omondi and Peter Lwasa. Another interesting aspect of the Gor Mahia build up was the movement of Austin Odhiambo and Peter Lwasa who would drop and interchange to create overloads against the first Gor Mahia line of pressure. With the pivot midfielder marked closely they would look to drop next to him to create overloads and progress. Gor Mahia build Up vs Police FC PressIn the progression phase, Police FC would also look to deny central progression by Gor Mahia, this would be done by inverting Francis Kahata, this action would see Police FC have a 4v3 in midfield initially. The width would then be provided by David Okoth who was always a threat 1v1. In Philemon Otieno and Geoffrey Ochieng, Gor Mahia would look to progress through these two in the wide channels. This looked to leave them susceptible to the threat in behind which Police FC did not utilize well until the introduction of Alvin Mangeni and Clifton Miheso who posed a lethal threat in the 1v1 scenarios. With the overload created by Police FC centrally Gor Mahia looked to progress the ball through long balls then look to battle out for the second balls, in Alpha Onyango and Austin Odhiambo they had players with proper technical security in the middle of the park, on winning the second balls one could see Austin Odhiambo beat his man with ease while Alpha stringed good sequences of passes. Ernest Wendo was the destroyer in the middle of the pack,his keen positioning to sniff out Police FC attacks was top notch. His aura of calmness on show for all. What a game he had. Gor Mahia Progression phase in settled playThe main undoing for Police FC coming into this game, had been the same issue which had reared its head against Nairobi City Stars, Vihiga Bullets, Tusker FC and in the first leg against Gor Mahia. This was the defending of runners in behind and set pieces. This is something Police FC must have worked on prior to this match. It must have been very disappointing when they went behind from a Dennis Njire set piece that found Benson Ochieng who knocked it back for Austin Odhiambo to cushion it into the net. On scoring the goal Gor Mahia’s prominence in a defensive block was on show for all. A compact 1:4:4:1:1 formation with Benson Ochieng and Bonface Omondi the main outlets on transitions. The resolute block was well marshaled with the wingers dropping back to create double teams on Police FC wingers outwide. When Police FC resorted to shooting from a distance good blocking and communication of switches with high concentration levels was on show. A clear indication of the hard yards the team has been putting up in training. Three things learnt from FKFPL Round 26 action as Gor Mahia reclaim to spotThis loss will leave a bitter test in Police FC’s mouth and leave the public with questions on why the heavily assembled squad cannot seem to get wins over the rather established teams in the league. A tactical master class on how to control a deep block and how to bypass lines of pressure while being very clinical when need be, has pushed Gor Mahia into first place. A place they will not plan on relinquishing anytime soon and with the quality and levels shown in this game, do not put it away from them on clinching the title.
