Continental minnows shock Gor Mahia

Gor Mahia are staring at the possibility of bidding the Caf Confederations Cup farewell after bowing 1-0 to Zambia's Napsa Stars in the first leg of the group stage playoff played at the Nyayo National Stadium. 

The home defeat leaves the Kenyan champions with a herculean task of forking out an away win in the second leg set for next weekend in Lusaka. 

Gor showed little or no intention to capitalize on home advantage after failing to master a serious goal onslaught in the first half.

The Kenyan champions who had to wait for seven minutes to have a sniff on goal when Nicholas Kipkirui rose past his markers to head Kenneth Muguna's long ball but the ball flew inches over the bar.

With Napsa sitting deep into their area, the color-less Gor midfield struggled to weave through to the final third leaving Kipkirui and Jules Ulimwengu to feed on scalps.

Gor custodian Boniface Oluoch was first called into action in the 16th minute after Dickson Chapa pulled the trigger few yards from the area but the experienced man was equal to the task.

Few minutes later, David 'Calabar' Owino escaped what appeared a clear caution after body checking Clifton Miheso who had rounded him off.The former Gor skipper was lucky not to enter into William Oloya's book for dissent although the Ugandan whistler had reached to his pocket. 

Napsa skipper Dickson Chapa who asked a number of questions in the Gor box to watched his long range effort end in the hands of Oluoch in the 34th minute as the visitors sought to break the deadlock. 

Desperate to bring the encounter into life, both coaches rung changes before restart with Mohammed Fathi chalking off Burundian striker Laudit Mavugo for Jimmy Mukeya. Gor's Vaz Pinto on the other hand reacted by resting Kipkirui for Samuel Onyango. 

The introduction of Onyango proved masterclass as the former Ulinzi Stars forward caused all sorts of problems to his markers who had enjoyed large spells of comfort in the first half. 

Six minutes after throwing Onyango into the fray, the Portuguese gaffer added more fireworks into his attacking front by slotting in the creative John Macharia and Tito Okello for Alpha Onyango and Ulimwengu respectively. 

The fresh legs were all what the hosts needed to resuscitate their hopes of securing a home win as the number of goal attempts significantly grew as the clock ticked.

However Gor were punished in the 85th minute after Daniel Adoko pounced on a poor clearance by Geoffrey Ochieng to fire past a fully stretching Oluoch to gift Napsa a vital away goal and a win.