Gor Mahia spank disinterested Talanta in low-key season ender

Record Kenyans Gor Mahia have wrapped up the 2021-2022 Football Kenya Federation Premier League season in style after humbling first timers FC Talanta 2-1 at the Kasarani main Stadium on Wednesday. 

Ugandan import Peter Lwasa was the difference between the two sides as his brace earned K'Ogalo maximum points and was also enough to seal a double over the hosts.

The match was supposed to have been played last month at Bukhungu Stadium but was cancelled in less than three hours to kickoff by the FKF Transition Committee after Gor raised complaints over Talanta's decision to host the duel outside the designated home venues. 

Gor head coach Andreas Spier took a swipe at Talanta for the level of unprofessionalism they depicted last weekend by failing to show up against Kakamega Homeboyz.

"We played against a side which chooses who to play and who to give three points. I am happy we gave them a beating although I must admit that their experienced players gave us troubles," he said.

His opposite number Kenneth Kenyatta rued the difficult circumstances in which he prepared for the match for the loss, the eleventh in the season.

"The last time I tried to get players on the pitch, they all switched off their mobile phones. We trained for a single day for the game and managed to give Gor a run for their money. Had we had sufficient preparations, we would have done better," he said.

Talanta's ill preparedness was exposed from onset as Gor took control of proceedings from onset and would have taken the lead in the sixth minute through Benson Omala but the former national U20 forward headed wide with the goalkeeper to beat after George Odhiambo picked him with a well weighted cross.

Two minutes later, Lwasa turned his markers inside out in the box but casually drove the off the target much to the chagrin of his teammates who were waiting for a cut back from the Ugandan. 

Missiles kept on being launched to the Talanta area with Isaiah Wakasala pulling a decent save to deny Samuel Onyango who tried to beat him from long range in the 12th minute.

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Talanta had the first sniff at goal in the 15th minute when Castro Ogendo let out a ferocious shot outside the area but Dolph Owino palmed the ball away for a corner.

Gor's last man, Sydney Ochieng, escaped a red card by a whisker after he deliberately used his arm to block what would have been a splitting pass few yards from the area.

The natural attacking midfielder who had started at the heart of the defence was cautioned by centre referee Brook Philiphs for the offence to the disappointment of Talanta players who were petitioning for his sent off.

Kahiro thought he had given Talanta the lead in the 28th minute when he lobbied the ball past the advancing Owino but the offside flag worked against him and to the advantage of Gor.

Talanta rung the first change in the 40th minute albeit a unwanted one as Vincent Owino limped off after colliding with Ernest Wendo earlier on in the game. His place was taken up by Rodgers Angal.

A lapse in concentration by the Talanta defence saw Gor take the lead in the 42nd minute through Lwasa who comfortably tapped the ball in from close range.

Two more substitutes were thrown in before the second half got underway where Alvin Ochieng and Brian Yakhama came in for Peter Njammah and Gershon Likono respectively.

Yakhama nearly drew Talanta level with his first shot but was blocked by the clustered legs in the Gor box for a corner.

The fresh legs appeared to give Talanta the much needed energy to level matters but their quest suffered a blow when Lwasa capitalized on a clearance by his custodian, Owino to double the advantage for Gor in the 63rd minute. 

Against the run of play, Lwasa controlled the long ball that pierced its way past the middle, left his marker, Luis Masika for the dead before taking his time to slot the ball into an empty net. 

Five minutes after doubling their lead, Gor introduced the trio of Gilber Otieno, John Macharia and Boniface Omondi for Ochieng, Lwasa and Paul Ochuoga respectively.

Talanta who lost the first leg staged at the same venue pressed hard in the dying minutes of the games in a bid to get at least a consolation goal and Rodgers Angal had the answer as his freekick in the 87th minute halved the deficit for the hosts.

Gor who were under pressure from the debutants defended resolutely in the remaining minutes of the game to take home the three points.