Gor Mahia FC head coach Dylan Kerr says he is delighted with how his charges performed in their CAF Confederation Cup Groups stage clash against Tanzanian giants Yanga FC.
“I am really pleased with my players because they played just how I wanted them to. We created chances and scored. Probably, we should have had three more goals but I am happy with what we gave. We were absolutely fantastic,” Gor Mahia head coach Dylan Kerr said.
Humphrey Mieno who played a major role in the victory termed the result as a morale booster. The midfielder who bagged two assists in the tie revealed that the side now has more belief of making to the next round of the competition.
“We just keep going and this result makes us believe that we can actually go on and achieve the target of getting to the next round,” Mieno said.
The Kenyan Giants were on fine form in the clash staged at Moi International Sports Centre on Wednesday and they picked a 4-0 win courtesy of a brace from Ephraim Guikan, Humphrey Mieno and an own goal from Hajj Mwinyi. The win saw Gor Mahia FC end their wait for a win in the group’s stages of the Confederations Cup.
Gor Mahia FC are now placed second on the CAF Confederations Cup group D with five points, two behind leaders USM Algiers. Rayon is third while Yanga sits bottom.
Charles Momanyi failed to put Yanga custodian Youth Rostand to his first test as the rising defender failed to guide his header on goal at the end of Samuel Onyango’s cross on the 11th minute.
But it was Jacques Tuyisenge who pulled the first trigger after checking his run well to stay in line with the Yanga center back duo before ducking out to turn home yet another Onyango delivery from the right wing on the 23rd minute.
Humphrey Mieno was superb in the midfield and his classy display of the opening session was crowned with an exquisite assist that sent Ephrem Guikan right through the middle of the opposition defense, and the Ivorian made it count with a well taken low shot past a helpless Youth Rostand. 2-0 Gor Mahia led at the break.
Francis Kahata was also leading the midfield orchestra in his normal style and fashion. His contribution led to the third goal. In the build-up, Bernard Ondiek’s effort from outside the box after a superb run was deflected out for a corner.
While everyone else took position in the Yanga box, Walusimbi at the corner flag saw Kahata unmarked and set him up with a short corner restart, the midfielder floated in a delivery and Shakava rose highest but missed to connect. The ball however did not get Momanyi who was also attacking at the back post as Mwinyi Mngwali attempted clearance turned the ball into his own net for an own goal and Gor Mahia’s third of the encounter.
These goals indeed looked to have settled the tie. But one more goal would always mean so much and that precious fourth came on the 85th minute. This sent the Gor Mahia fans into raptures and sucked life out of the visitors.
Yanga had mounted an attack in search of atleast a consolation goal. But this was stopped by a big clearance by Shakava. Then Francis Mustafa chested the ball down for Mieno in the midfield to release the looking to run Guikan and the rush towards goal was on. The final fire off the striker’s left foot was powerful. Rastand had no chance and the ball came off the far post into the net.
The game was up for the visitors. For coach Kerr, his players and their delighted fans, the quarter-final quest goes on.