Gor Mahia’s chances of reaching the quarter-finals of the Caf Confederation Cup are now hanging in the balance after losing 4-0 to Zamalek on Sunday.
It took the hosts just three minutes to fire a warning shot when Tarek Hamed broke clear on the right, but the impressive keeper Peter Odhiambo came to the rescue of his team and ensure K’Ogalo did not concede early.
Zamalek continued pushing for an opener and in the 12th minute they were rewarded. Samuel Onyango committed a foul at the edge of the 18-yard area and Abdalla Gomaa took it. Mahmoud Alaa rose highest to ensure the ball hit the back of the net.
The hosts played well, looked threatening and created chance after chance as compared to their visitors, who looked lost and out of place. It was not a surprise when a long ball fell to El Said, who managed to bring it down for star Youssef Obama to smash it past the keeper for the second goal.
It could have been worse for the Hassan Oktay led side before half-time, but poor finishing by El Said and good goalkeeping by Peter Odhiambo saved the Kenyan Premier League champions the blushes.
Despite an improved start after the break, K’Ogalo failed to get past their hosts, who looked hungrier for more goals. Defense splitting passes was the order of the day with captain Harun Shakava and Charles Momanyi struggling to tame the fast Zamalek attackers.
Odhiambo was called into action once again in the 64th minute, denying Obama from getting his second. The latter’s fierce strike was punched out for a fruitless corner-kick.
Twenty minutes later, the hosts deservedly scored their third; concentration lapses in Gor Mahia’s defense allowed Ibrahim to pass the ball to Ferjani Sassi, who danced past the defenders before rounding the goalkeeper and scoring into an empty net.
Two minutes later, El Said completed the rout with a fine finish when he was easily allowed into the danger zone.
Gor Mahia XI: Fredrick Odhiambo, Philemon Otieno, Geoffrey Ochieng, Haron Shakava, Charles Momanyi, Ernest Wendo, Boniface Omondi, Kenneth Miguna, Jacques Tuyisenge, Francis Kahata, and Samuel Onyango.
Reserves: Shaban Odhoji, Pascal Ogweno, Benard Ondiek, George Odhiambo, Erissa Ssekisambu, Nicholas Kipkirui and Dennis Oliech.