K’Ogalo came into the match after two successive draws knowing they had to start winning if they have real intentions of successfully defending their title, with the Kawangware- based side also aware of relegation threats considering their unpleasant position in the log.
The winning goal was scored by Collins Okoth to give champions Gor Mahia a 2-1 victory over Nairobi City Stars in a thrilling league encounter at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
The veteran midfielder, who was making his first start in the second leg, lashed the ball home from six yards out after controlling Enock Agwanda’s long throw in to spark off wild celebrations as K’Ogalo clinched a dramatic win in the last minute of added time.
The victory saw Gor increase their points tally to 34 points, three behind Tusker who were held to a 1-1 draw by Sofapaka in Machackos earlier in the day.
Gor took the lead after 22 minutes, when Haroun Shakava fired the ball home from ten yards out after Simon Ogutu had failed to clear Karim Nizigiyimana’s cross.
But before the champions could finish their celebrations, City Stars leveled matters with a contender for goal of the season.
Ezekiel Odera’s impudent flick off Jimmy Bageya’s pass took him clear of the defence before calmly beating Boniface Oluoch to silence the Green Army.
Gor’s top scorer hit the bar with a header off a Wafula freekick on the stroke of halftime.The second half saw Gor throw the kitchen at City Stars with the Kawangware based side putting up an admirable rearguard performance.
But with 40 seconds of six minutes of added time remaining, K’Ogalo found the breakthrough when Agwanda’s long throw in fell kindly for Okoth and he scored his first goal of the season with virtually the last kick of the game.