Gor Mahia fall to Power Dynamos
Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia on Sunday suffered a 3-0 loss to Zambia’s Power Dynamos in a thrilling preseason friendly match at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Kennedy Mudenda, Larry Bwalya and Richard Kasombe scored for the Dynamos with the hosts unable to measure up despite their new players exhibiting flashes of brilliance in the first half.
Mudenda broke the deadlock at the stroke of half time through a penalty awarded after Collins ‘Gatusso’ Okoth upended Govenda Simwala inside the box.
Bwalya then extended Dynamos’ lead in the 55th minute by calmly rolling the ball into the empty net after drawing out goalkeeper Jerim Onyango.
Kasombe then put the game beyond K’Ogalo’s reach 14 minutes before full time with a low shot.
Zambia coach Tennant Chilumba revealed that his team is in Kenya on a 10-day tour as they prepare for their Confederations Cup tie against Al Khartoum of Sudan.
SQUANDERED PENALTIES
“It is good that we won, but we were not out for a win. We are on a pre-season tour and we are trying to get our fitness right. This is a good place to camp because of the weather,” Chilumba said.
Gor Mahia squandered two penalties by Michael Olunga and Timothy Otieno either side of the break.
Otieno’s spot kick, awarded under unclear circumstances in the 25th minute, was easily saved by keeper Joel Kanyaba, while Olunga blazed his penalty way over the bar in the 61st minute.
However, the hosts did well in the first half in terms of ball possession, Otieno, Olunga and George Odhiambo keeping the Zambian defense busy.
The Zambians played with more vigor in the second half. Dynamos are scheduled to play Sofapaka and Tusker on Wednesday and Saturday respectively.