AFC Leopards tear through Gor Mahia to secure third Mashemeji Derby win in nine years

AFC Leopards earned their first Mashemeji Derby victory in over two years after clawing their storied arch-nemesis Gor Mahia 1-0 at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, 7 December.

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Leopards, who last won in this fixture in May 2023, showcased one of their best performances so far this season as they took a first-half lead and rendered their opponents shorn off ideas, all in front of a capacity crowd that turned the occasion to one full of noise and color.

Having come in as slight underdogs, Ingwe landed the decisive blow in the 25th minute when Julius Masaba crept in at the back-post to stick a rebound into an empty net, a move that set a platform for the visitors to come out trumps, winning their most important fixture in the country for the 29th time.

The win, which was Leopards' fourth this season, other than stamping the already known narrative of the unpredictable nature of derbies, notably preserved coach Fred Ambani’s invincible status in the fixture, who up to date, is yet to lose to Gor Mahia while representing Ingwe on the touchline, or on the field as a former player.

Happening a week later than initially scheduled, a lot of pride, as is always the case, was riding on this meeting, and while form dictated a stacked Gor Mahia team would edge it, it was the blue and white side that had struggled to string in decent results that showed more endeavor and hunger, something that was not lost just minutes after kickoff in a raucous atmosphere.

Carrying a number of changes to what many predicted as the preferred lineup, Ambani seemed to have hit the right notes early, when the rarely-used Tyson Otieno bossed proceedings in the middle of the pack, and right back Brian Ojok looked imperious in defense.

Ingwe, don in their usual blue and white stripes, should have gone ahead after only 114 seconds when Victor Omune was fed in early by Kayci Odhiambo, only to take a heavy touch when the headlines were being written.

Just like defender Ken Odhiambo - who was on this occasion reduced to the bench - called it in the buildup, AFC Leopards were up to the fight, and despite their opponents carrying a similar formula that worked in well effect against Kenya Police in one of their most convincing wins, failed to sparkle, and were only reduced to feed off scraps.

After a period of domination, the visitors took a deserved lead in the 25th minute when Masaba reacted quickest to tap in a rebound that came from Bryne Omondi saving a well-placed shot at the bottom corner by Tyson.

The work in the buildup, however, had been done by derby first-timer James Kinyanjui, who dribbled his way past another debutant Bryton Onyona to squeeze in a cross that found Tyson in acres of space to shoot at goal.

Usually expected to dust themselves for a swift response, Gor Mahia instead fell flat, unable to disentangle themselves from what looked like a one-dimensional approach that was easily nullified by harrying Ingwe bodies.

The only moment the men in green went close was when Enock Morrison attempted a shot from distance in the 42nd minute, that fell way wide.

Skipper Austin Odhiambo here looked a pale shadow of himself - not to say of his elder brother Tyson - struggling to find spaces past an industrious Musa Oundo, and was left frustrated when two of his floated freekicks into the paths of Sylvester Owino and substitute Patrick Essombe failed to threaten Humphrey Katasi in goal.

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Charles Akonnor, in his first derby that he was warned not to even think about losing, shuffled the park in a frantic second half by introducing the perceived control of Alpha Onyango for bland Fidel Origa, but to no avail.

Ghanaian Ebenezer Adukwaw was also easy to miss during his entire hour on the pitch, all to the credit of Ambani and his band of players, who made sure to return some pride back to the den, and hopefully kickstart a new beginning for an inconsistent side.

Shariff Musa, with a chance to level the score deep in stoppage time, hit his shot over, a glimpse to their struggles on the day.

The win for Leopards took them into sixth with 17 points, while Gor Mahia failed to retake control of the league, slipping to second on 19.