In the 99th derby at Nyayo National Stadium, Gor Mahia needed a late goal courtesy of captain Alpha Onyango to carry the derby bragging rights and move six points clear ahead of their rivals on the 18-team league table.
The win enabled Gor Mahia to avenge their first-round defeat, which AFC Leopards had won by a similar margin.
Heading into the eagerly-awaited derby, Gor Mahia had registered 17 wins, seven draws, and four defeats, while AFC, under head coach and former player Fred Ambani, had managed 16 wins, seven draws, and suffered five defeats.
‘I salute my boys for the win’
“We looked at the opponent very well, compared with what we did in the first round, we looked at exactly what they were made of, and so, we strategised everything,” Akonnor told Flashscore after the game.
“In the first half, you realised that we were better, we controlled the game, they couldn’t breathe, and that is exactly what we planned. I must say the boys have done very well, I salute them because of the performance.
“Not just the win, but the performance, and also the belief, you know in the first half we had a lot of chances, we couldn’t score, but they believed, and worked so hard, and at the end we were rewarded with a goal.”
Akonnor added: “Everything we planned for, everything we wanted to do in the field of play, we did it. The boys were able to implement exactly what we wanted them to do. I am so proud of them, how they played was wonderful.”
‘Gor Mahia goal came from nowhere’
AFC Leopards coach Fred Ambani admitted to being pained in the way his side conceded what turned out to be the winner for their opponents.
“We have lost because of bad luck, if you look at the goal we conceded, it’s not a goal that Gor Mahia created or planned, it just came from nowhere, for me I will assume it was not our day,” said Ambani.
“In the second half we dominated the game, we were on top of Gor Mahia, but they were lucky to get the goal. Kelly (Madada) brought something into the team that we were lacking in the first half, but I still insist we lost because of back luck.”
Ambani added: “It’s a painful defeat, we know losing a game is part of the game, but this one, it pains, it hurts.”
On the title race, Ambani responded: “We still have matches to play, and it will be not good for someone to say the title is gone. We want to win our matches, because we know we still have matches to play.”
AFC Leopards chairman Boniface Ambani blamed their derby defeat on poor officiating while blaming FKF for not taking action against the match officials.
“You’ll call for meetings from all the branches country wide, spend millions in them, but you’ll never fix the big monster in our football…poor officiating,” said a fuming Ambani.
“You’ve turned your referees into match fixers. Fix the monster in these leagues or just ship out. The monster is poor refereeing from grassroots levels to the top leagues.”
The victory left Gor Mahia at the top with 61 points amassed from 18 wins, seven draws, and four defeats, while AFC Leopards remained second with 55 points garnered from 16 wins, seven draws, and six defeats.
Gor Mahia’s last five matches will be against Kakamega Homeboyz, Kenya Police FC, Murang’a Seal, Mara Sugar, and conclude their campaign against Nairobi United.
For AFC Leopards, they will have to play against Ulinzi Stars, Mara Sugar, Kakamega Homeboyz, APS Bomet, and Bidco United.