Gor Mahia beat Nairobi City Stars to claim 20th Premier League title
By Joel Sang, June 25, 2023Gor Mahia are the Football Kenya Federation Premier League title winners for the 2022–23 season after beating Nairobi City Stars 4-1 at Kasarani on Sunday, June 25, 2023.
K’Ogalo came back from 1-0 to claim the 4-1 win and eventually beat Tusker to the title. Benson Omala, Peter Lwasa, Austin Odhiambo, and Alpha Onyango scored the vital goals that ensured Gor Mahia weathered the storm to win the title race.
Gor Mahia’s chances and goals
Meanwhile, Gor Mahia came close to taking the lead in the seventh minute but could not get the goal as they failed to make maximum use of a free-kick won in a promising position. Odhiambo delivered a good free kick, but City Stars managed to clear the danger.
K’Ogalo were more dominant in the opening stages of the game as they pressed City Stars, with Odhiambo, Geoffrey Ochieng, and Boniface Omondi particularly leading the attacks well.
Another chance to break the deadlock came in the 19th minute, but after a good interplay between Lwasa and Odhiambo, City Stars goalkeeper Steve Njunge made a vital clearance to deny Gor Mahia.
Gor Mahia continued pressing, and in the 28th minute, a combination between Odhiambo and Omala almost brought the breakthrough, but Njunge again made a vital save to keep the scoreline at 0-0.
Determined to get the lead in the first half, Gor Mahia kept pressing City Stars at their half, but the home side stood firm. City Stars were not shaken even by Enery Bayisenge, Odhiambo, Omondi, and Shafik Kagimu.
Odhiambo was the most lively player for Gor Mahia in the first half and, in the 44th minute, came close to finding the back of the net, however, his effort flew out by inches.
Lively second half
The second half started with a high tempo, and City Stars took the lead in the 46th minute when Samuel Kapen scored. The lead did not last long as Gor Mahia fought back and equalized in the 50th minute through Omala.
To bring more energy into the midfield, coach Johnathan McKinstry made a change as he brought on Alpha Onyango for Kagimu.
After controlling the game with patience, Gor Mahia finally took the lead two minutes after the hour mark when Lwasa scored. After beating his opponent at the edge of the box, the former Kariobangi Sharks star thunderously fired past Njunge to put Gor Mahia in the lead.
McKinstry made another change in the 70th minute when he took off Lwasa and brought on Patrick Kaddu.
The change brought a new impetus to the Gor Mahia attacking line, and the local heavyweights extended the lead when Omala scored the third.
City Stars should be thankful to their goalkeeper, Njunge, who made vital saves; otherwise, the scoreline would have been big in the end.
After sealing the win, fans joined the players to celebrate the milestone.
Elsewhere, Tusker were 4-0 winners over Vihiga Bullets at the Mumias Stadium.
Deogratius Ojok, Shami Kibwana and Stewart Omondi (2) scored for the Ruaraka club, but it was not enough for them to become champions in what could have been their third straight title.
Tusker eased past the already-relegated Bullets to end the season on a winning note.
Gor Mahia will now return to continental football as they will represent the country in the CAF Champions League.
The successful title race is also set to relieve pressure on coach McKinstry. The former Rwanda head coach had come under immense pressure, especially when Gor Mahia failed to wrap up the title race when they lost to Kakamega Homeboyz.