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AFC Leopards finally ended the disturbing jinx of failure to beat Gor Mahia in seven years when they beat their arch rivals 2-1 in a tension filled 96th Mashemeji Derby at Nyayo National Stadium yesterday.

The result effectively slowed down Gor’s race to the title and especially after they surrendered the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League to Tusker after the latter edged Kariobangi Sharks 2-1 on Saturday.

The last time Leopards beat Gor was in 2016 when Ivorian Lamine Diallo scored the lone goal that separated the two teams in Kasarani. 

Most of the current players in the Leopards set up were still in their teens when Diallo, who currently plays for FC San Pedro in his native Ivory Coast,  beat K’Ogalo captain Jerim Onyango with an unstoppable peach of a shot in the 83rd minute.

The result saw Leopards climb above then overnight leaders Tusker FC to the top of the SPL table with a ten-point advantage.

Further, it ended Gor’s 35-match unbeaten streak in the top flight, a run stretching since they lost 3-2 to Sofapaka on October 26, 2014 at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

In contrast, Leopards are no longer among the league frontrunners in the KPL 2022/2023 season but they did make themselves proud yesterday by overcoming their nemesis who had made it almost a routine to beat them in both domestic league and knock-out championships.

The Green Army left the stadium crestfallen, not least the league’s top scorer Benson Omala who failed in his bid to equal the club’s great Maurice “Sonyi”Ouma goal scoring exploits, thanks to a missed penalty.

Gor were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes and Omala, who has never failed to score from the spot this season, took responsibility and ballooned the ball wide to the disbelief of the crowd.

Ingwe were evidently stronger off the blocks when Victor Omune made no mistake with a penalty past Gor goalkeeper Gad Matthews in the 33rd minute following a foul inside the box.  

Austin Odhiambo, playing against his former employers, would then equalize for Gor with a cleverly-taken kick that flew past custodian Lewis Opiyo.

Leopards came even stronger with Maxwell Otieno cashing on loose marking to fire from close range for the winning goal in the 43rd minute.

Leopards coach Patrick Aussems expressed his pleasure with the team’s performance, adding that breaking the jinx has given the team extra motivation to wind up the league in a respectable position

“So far so good.  The players have passed a very difficult test and I think they are happy with themselves for overcoming a team that is chasing the league title.  We had set our targets and the players knew they had a duty to perform and the results are there for all to see. Kudos to them,’’ offered Aussems.