Leopards claw Gor Mahia in thrilling derby
Lamine Diallo came off the bench to score a beautiful goal that handed AFC Leopards victory over Gor Mahia in a feisty Mashemeji derby on Sunday at the Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani.
Ten minutes to the end of the match, Diallo made the most of a well placed acute pass from Yusuf Juma to side foot the ball past a stranded Jerim Onyango in Gor Mahia’s goal to send Leopards’ fans into a frenzy.
Victory hoisted Leopards back to the top of the Kenyan Premier League log with 10 points from four matches, while Gor Mahia remain winless in as many matches.
Gor Mahia’s Scottish coach, Frank Nuttall, rued the numerous chances his team created but failed to convert in the match.
KEEP PUSHING ON
“I have to give them the courage and motivation to keep pushing on. We missed the services of key players like Michael Olunga, Meddie Kagere and Ali Abondo,” Nuttall said.
His opposite number, Ivan Minnaert, was however modest in victory.
“Everybody was behind this victory. Now we have to keep pushing. We still have 26 games to play and the competition is still long. So every game is different and we need to go forward and try to win,” he said.
At the Ruaraka grounds, John Mark Makwatta found the mark as Ulinzi Stars beat Ushuru 1-0 while Bandari also squeezed a narrow 1-0 win over Sony Sugar at the Mbaraki Sports Club in Mombasa.
