- Gor Mahia drop points in third straight game after stalemate against Bandari FC.
- The match was staged at the Mbaraki Sports Club on Friday, December 12.
- Ebenezer Adukwaw scored the opening goal for Gor Mahia in the first half before Geoffrey Ojunga equalized for Bandari in the second half.
Bandari FC turned the tables from a set piece as they snatched a point in a thrilling 1-1 SportPesa League draw against Gor Mahia in Friday’s scorching temperatures at the Mbaraki Sports Club in Mombasa.
It was not the result the record champions desired, having traveled to the Coast hoping to return to winning ways after enduring consecutive losses to APS Bomet and AFC Leopards the previous weekend.
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Ebenezer Adukwaw needed just one minute after the half-hour mark to open the scoring, tapping in from close range after Shariff Musa’s pass to give K’Ogalo the lead.
Gor Mahia managed to hold onto their advantage through the first half, but after the break, the coastal heat intensified along with the pressure.
Gor Mahia drop points again
The second half saw Bandari emerge with renewed energy, determined to redeem themselves.
They camped in Gor Mahia’s defensive third and found their equalizer in the 57th minute.
Awarded a freekick on the left, Abdallah Hassan delivered a cross into the box that Geoffrey Ojunga headed home to level the match. The hosts continued to dominate proceedings thereafter.
Gor’s head coach Charles Akonnor made his first substitution, replacing the goalscorer Aduk-waw with Patrick Esombe in search of fresh energy.
However, the visitors struggled to find their rhythm in the sweltering conditions.
Akonnor soon made a double change, introducing Fidel Origa and Ben Stanley for Alpha Onyango and Felix Olouch respectively.
Dockers’ coach Siaw Razak responded by bringing on Alfred Emoni for the assist-provider Hassan Abdallah.
In the final four minutes of added time, both sides pushed for a winner. Bandari launched a counter-attack, but Ojunga’s strike struck the side netting.
Gor then created a chance of their own when Odhiambo crossed for Esombe, whose delivery into the box narrowly missed Musa’s head by inches, drifting out for a goal kick.
Soon after, the referee’s whistle confirmed the sides would share the points.
Despite extending their winless run to three matches, K’Ogalo remain atop the table with 20 points, especially after Kakamega Homeboyz also faltered in a 2-2 draw with Shabana on the day.
For Bandari, the draw brought relief following a loss in their previous outing.
The result comes just a day after the club parted ways with head coach Mohammed Borji following a string of poor performances. They currently sit 13th with 13 points.
Bandari vs Gor Mahia – SportPesa League Round 13 line-ups, December 12
- Bandari: Allaine Ngeleka, Andrew Juma, Sharrif MaJabe, Swaleh Pamba, Joseph Onyango, Clifford Otieno, Said Tsuma, Abdallah Hassan, Izzadin Ramadhan, Erick Balecho, Amza Moubarak.
- Gor: Bryne Omondi, Sylvester Owino, Michael Kibwage, Bryton Onyona, Paul Ochouga, Alpha Onyango, Austin Odhiambo, Ebenezer Aduk-waw, Felix Olouch, Shariff Musa.