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Olunga double steers slick Gor Mahia past Zanzibari opponents


Gor Mahia on Monday beat Zanzibar’s KMKM (Kikosi Maalumu cha Kuzuia Magendo) 3-1 in their second match of the 2015 Cecafa Kagame Cup in Dar es Salaam to consolidate their position at the top of Group 3.

A similar effort against Al Khartoum in their next match on Friday will assure them of advancement into the next round.

Gor coach Frank Nutttall was full of praise for his charges, saying: “This game just confirms that every team is here by merit and everyone wants to carve out a good name for themselves. KMKM were very resolute especially on defense and I am very glad that the team maintained the same high level performance during this match,” he said.

KAGERE OPENER

K’Ogalo began well and went ahead in the fourth minute through Ugandan Meddie Kagere, but the Zanzibari opponents provided a prompt reply through striker Saimon Matteo.

Olunga however delivered a Man of the Match performance in the second half where he scored two goals to condemn the Zanzibari side to their first defeat of the tournament.

Coach Frank Nuttall maintained his cherished 4-4-2 formation but he made three changes in the starting lineup that saw defender Dirkir Glay, who was the villain responsible for scoring an own goal in their opening match against Yanga FC start from the bench.

Ali Abondo and Ronald Omino returned to the starting roster after starting from the bench in the previous match, while midfield kingpin Collins Okoth missed out due to a muscle injury and followed the action from the stands.

Kagere sent K’Ogalo ahead in the fourth minute when he acted on a cross provided by his fellow striker Michael Olunga, but they were able to hold on to this lead for only six short minutes.

EQUALIZER

Matteo provided the response for KMKM in the tenth minute of the mattch with an angled header off a corner worked forward by defender Charles Chonga.

Having eliminated the deficit, the Zanzibar team played with renewed confidence and defender Karim Nzigiyimana and Musa Mohammed had a difficult time containing the opponents’ front line.

Matteo forced awesome goalkeeping skills from Boniface Oluoch with a stinging shot in the final minute of the first period, but Oluoch dived acrobatically to repel his effort.

In an earlier match at the same venue, Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah led Sudanese outfit Al Khartoum to a 5-0 win over Djibouti Telecom by four clear goals to gain second position in Group A with three points.

Al Khartoum are K’Ogalo’s next opponents.