Defending Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) Champions Gor Mahia’s win-less streak alarmingly stretched to seven games after they lost 1-0 to Ulinzi Stars at A.S.K Grounds, Nakuru on Monday evening.In hitting K’Ogalo, the soldiers avenged their first-leg defeat at Nyayo Stadium, and left club legend Sammy Pamzo Omolo without a single victory since taking over after Portuguese Manuel Vaz Pinto ditched the troubled outfit.Both teams came into this game hoping to bounce back to winning ways but it was Ulinzi Stars who did it better courtesy of a lone strike from 2016 KPL U20 champion Alex Masinde.The opening stages of the game presented a fairly balanced contest, as both teams were cautious as they tried to settle into the game.Ulinzi Stars scored the all-important goal just 17 minutes into the game. Masita Masita lofted a good ball from a freekick, over the wall but hit the woodwork. Masinde reacted quickly and headed the resultant rebound to give Ulinzi the lead.🥇 MAN OF THE MATCH 🥇✅ Another clean sheet✅ Another man of the match performance from @UlinziStarsFCCaptain and Goalkeeper #UlinziVsGor#BKPL pic.twitter.com/LizXIKsd7r— Betking Kenya Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) July 26, 2021 Ulinzi were always a threat with the ball when attacking with Masita, Bikokwa, and Clinton Omondi combining well to give Gor defenders a hard time.Gor had returned to playing with five at the back, those this time with two changes to personnel. Joachim Oluoch slotting in for Frank Odhiambo who is away for national team duties in Ethiopia, and Fred Nkata coming in for the injured Geoffrey Ochieng. The absence of the two defenders was highly felt in the team.Gad Mathews, once a villain at Gor Mahia when he was having a rough patch, had a terrific game. He was very firm on goal and denied Ulinzi Stars a couple of times both in the first and in the second half.Unlike in other games when he is all over urging his players on, Pamzo held his cool. He did what he does in other matches, but not with the same intensity.On resumption, Gor came back with hopes of turning the scores around. All they needed was just one goal, and they would be back to contention.Harun Shakava rose highest to head a corner but missed the target with his effort going wide. At least they were now pushing.John Ochieng, who has been having little to no playtime at the club, had the chance to impress Pamzo but only lasted a disastrous 54 minutes. He was replaced by his namesake John Macharia🚨 Full time reactionUlinzi Stars FC (KDF) 1-0 Gor Mahia FC (KDF-ish) ✅ Parade mzuri comrades😎📸 Courtesy pic.twitter.com/PciqoLSv8Z— Ulinzi Stars FC (@UlinziStarsFC) July 26, 2021 Pamzo was determined to get at least a point at Nakuru and did all he could by tinkering his squad more.At the hour mark, he brought in Tito Okello and Clifton Miheso for Samuel Onyango and Philemon Otieno. A forward for a defender.Benjamin Nyangweso responded by bringing in Bernard Ongoma for Masuta, a defensive option in an attempt to lock the game and bag all the points.The game plan for Ulinzi was just one, defend with all they had, and defending they did.A further change by Pamzo to bring in Nicholas Omondi who has been tipped to replace Kenneth Muguna bore no fruits for the defending champions as Ulinzi held on to that goal to take all the points.The loss leaves Gor Mahia 8th on the log with 40 points while Ulinzi Stars move to 37 points, but remain 10th.
