Record Kenya champions Gor Mahia’s woes continued to deepen following a 3-1 loss to Nairobi City Stars in a pre-season friendly staged at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday 13 November.K’Ogalo came into the clash reeling after suffering a shock 1-0 loss to Wazito FC last week courtesy of a goal from Yusuf Juma and were winless in the last two games after a 2-2 draw with Ulinzi Stars.Fired up Philemon ‘Mbish’ Otieno eager to write own history as K’Ogalo skipperCity Stars on the other hand had not played a high profile friendly since the 2-0 loss to Kenya Police FC in the Elite Pre-season Cup but had a number of clashes against lower league sides.The game was off to a slow start as the ghostly Nyayo National Stadium that lacked fans did little to spur on the players on the field as the game looked like it was played behind closed doors.Gor Mahia soon settled into the game and wasted no time in grabbing the lead in the 17th minute when lanky centers back headed down the ball which fell to Lloyd Khavuchi to rifle the ball into the roof of the net as he celebrated with the griddy dance celebration.##NAJAVA_MECA_6810126##City Stars also got a foothold in the game after letting in the early opener but missed a number of chances with the best being squandered by Kelvin Etemesi who fluffed his lines from a Roland Makati cross.The Gor Mahia forward line also could not find their scoring boots as Khavuchi and Benson Omala missed half chances that saw K’Ogalo head into the break with a slender 1-0 lead.Gor Mahia head coach Johnathan McKinstry made double substitutions as he withdrew Enock Wanyama for Philemon Otieno and Dennis Nga’ng’a was introduced in place of John Ochieng who picked up an injury towards the end of the opening half.The record Kenyan champions had another chance to double their lead in the 57th minute but Benson Omala’s shot sailed narrowly off the mark to hit the side netting as some sections of the few fans thought the ball had gone in.City Stars were awarded a penalty three minutes after the half hour mark when Gilbert Otieno handled the ball inside the box as Peter ‘Pinchez’ Opiyo nonchalantly slotted the ball home with a hope skip and kick penalty.Buoyed by their equalizer, City Stars went ahead four minutes later when substitute Vincent Otieno hit a long range strike from outside the box that caught Caleb Omondi napping in goal as the young goalkeeper had a horror show in the second half.Fans invited as Gor Mahia clash with City Stars at NyayoSimba wa Nairobi continued to press their foot on the gas with wind on their sails and got their insurance goal in the 86th minute when Samuel Kapeni found Newton Ochieng unmarked inside the box with a quick counter as the latter tapped home and celebrated with the Cristiano Ronaldo sleep celebration.City Stars held on for the win but could have added more goals with K’Ogalo looking shaky at the back.
