Kenya Premier League defending champions Gor Mahia dropped to position two in Group ‘D’ following a slender 1-0 defeat to Na Hussein Dey of Algeria on Sunday in a CAF Confederation Cup match in Algeria.
Gor who started the match atop the group on six points, went down in the 10th minute when Na Hussein’s Abderrhamane Yousfi scored the only goal of the match after the visitors’ defenders failed to clear a loose ball in the box.
Following the outcome, Na Husein Dey are now top of Group D with 7 points while Gor Mahia is on 6 from 4 matches .The Kenyan side next visits Zamalek who defeated Petro Atletico 1-0 on Sunday to haul their points tally to 5, while Petro are on 4 as the scramble for the top two slots intensify.
Gor who looked confident all through the match had to keep up with poor officiating. Most of their fouls were not given and their head coach Hassan Oktay was seen time and again complaining to the fourth official.
In the second half, K’Ogalo looked more determined to get an equaliser creating a few chances but neither Kipkrui nor Jacques Tuyisenge could convert until the 79th minute when Gor finally found the back of the net via a Francis Kahata’s headed corner.
Though match referee ruled the goal out for alleged infringement on Hussein’s goalie, video replays showed that the goal should have stood amidst protest from Gor’s technical bench.
Coach Hassan Oktay elected to field Kipkirui and Tuyisenge in a two-prong attack as Dennis Oliech started on the bench.
In the midfield, Oktay went for Kahata, Lawrence Juma and Kenneth Muguna while Ugandan Shafiq Batambuze and Philemon Otieno manned the left and right wing back positions respectively allowing captain Harun Shakava and Charles Momanyii to partner at centre back.