NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 2 – Gor Mahia FC head coach Jonathan McKinstry was delighted and over the moon after his side opened a 10-point gap on top of the FKF Premier League standings after a well-worked 4-0 thrashing of hitherto second placed Posta Rangers in Machakos.
Austin Odhiambo scored a brace to take his tally for the season to seven, adding on to Benson Omalla’s early opener which was his 11th of the season and defender Sylvester Owino adding another.
Speaking after the match, the tactician was full of praise for his side and their performance, saying they could have otherwise scored more.
“We managed the game extremely well and to be honest with all due respect to Posta, it could have been eight or nine if you think of the clear chances we missed and the saves they made,” the tactician said after the game.
Gor played the whole second half with a one-man advantage after goalkeeper John Njau was sent off three minutes to the break for a foul on Omalla, and was replaced by Kevin Opiyo.
For the record FKF Premier League champions, it was a relieving result especially coming at the backdrop of last weekend’s heartbreaking exit from the FKF Cup to little known Denmak FC in Ukunda.
“Obviously we are vert pleased. It was a great performance from everyone especially after going out in the Cup. We left most of this starting eleven here in Nairobi because they needed that rest and we knew if they would be rested, we will take off well and we saw that today,” the coach further added.
The coach was also full of praise for brace hero Odhiambo, and says he has been the engine running the well-oiled Gor machine. He has also disclosed that the club had thought of dropping him at the start of the season, but he insisted he needed to have him in the squad.
“There was consideration to let him go at the start of the season but I insisted that we keep him and we could turn him into one of the best players in Kenya. I told people that at the end of the season, Austin will be in conversation for MVP because he has huge potential and we just saw what he is capable of,” noted the tactician.
Against Posta, Gor had a perfect start and scored after just 30 seconds, the quickest goal in the league this season.
The league champions turned over play straight from kick off, Austin engineering the move in midfield before spreading the ball to the left for Bryson Wangai to float a cross that Omalla headed home.
Posta put up a fight but couldn’t get a way back and they were undone by Njau’sa red card in the 42nd minute.
In the second half, with a one-man advantage, Gor were rolling. They doubled their lead in the 56th minute, Owino picking a cross at the backpost before rifling home on the half volley.
Austin then completed his brace in the final 10 minutes, scoring the first of his two and Gor Mahia’s third in the 81st minute after rounding the keeper and tapping into an empty net.
His second was even more sublime in the 88th minute, picking a Musa Masika pass from 30 yards out before dinking over the keeper who was a few yards off his line.
