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Ingwe's victory potentially blows Ko'Galo's title chances this season.
Twelve-time Kenyan champions AFC Leopards stunned sworn rivals Gor Mahia 2-1 in a highly charged FKF Premier League match played hosted at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Leopards were clearly affected by the infectious atmosphere created by the K'ogalo fans in the opening stages and nearly went a goal down just 3 minutes into the match but Peter Lwasa’s tame shot was easily dealt with by AFC Leopards custodian Levis Opiyo.
The game became fairly even from then on with AFC Leopards holding their nerve, but could have gone a goal down in the 14th minute when Gor Mahia captain Philemon Otieno hit a dangerous cross near the right flank byline towards Austin Odhiambo, but the midfielder sailed it just wide.
In the 16th minute, another dangerous long ball by Otieno from deep found leading goalscorer Benson Omala through on goal, but although Opiyo had read the danger and safely swept the ball away, Omala had already been flagged for offside.
Gor Mahia continued to create waves and waves of attack against the Leopards defense and in the 25th minute, Odhiambo had another chance to put the hosts ahead in a one v one situation, but Opiyo won the duel.
A series of sustained pressure continued and Gor Mahia won a penalty through midfielder Alpha Onyango in the 26th minute . Benson Omala had the prime opportunity to equal the long standing record of Maurice Ochienge of 26 league goals in a single season, but he fluffed his lines by hitting the ball wide.
Leopards would get a penalty of their own in the 32nd minute when Sylvester Owino fouled Maxwell Otieno on the edge of the area, and Victor Omune took full advantage, putting the visitors ahead purely against the run of play.
Their lead would not last though, as Odhiambo finally made amends for his earlier misses, getting on the end of a well executed corner by Denis Ng’ang’a in the 38th minute to score against his former employers.
Their parity would not last long though.In the 43rd minute, Leopards would take advantage of another Gor Mahia slip up. The winner for their penalty would then get a goal himself, as Otieno made a free run unmarked into the back post following a well taken corner kick by Eugine Mukangula to score past Gad Mathews’ net.
Kogalo head coach John McKinstry was clearly incandescent heading into the break, and needed to inject words of confidence.
However, both teams did not create inroads in any other team’s half in the opening minutes of the second half but won a freekick in the edge of the area in the 50th minute. Odhiambo hit the ball accurately towards Deninis Nganga who headed the ball at goal, but Opiyo made a world-class save to deny the left-footed center back.
AFC could have made it three in the 52nd minute through Otieno yet again after being set through on goal by Eugine Mukangula who showed excellent vision and precision to find the speedy winger, but Mathews was quick to smell the danger.
Leopards had yet another opportunity to go ahead on the counter attack in the 61st minute when Otieno was set through on goal yet again, but he dallied too much on the ball allowing Kogalo’s defence to get back into shape.
Leopards boss, Patrick Aussems decided to counter this by adding more pace on the flanks to hit Gor on the break, and in came Cliff Nyakeya for Mukangula. He would then make another change five minutes later, with Robert Mudenyu coming on for Kayici Odhiambo who was back in the starting line up for the first time after injury.
Gor would make changes of their own with John Macharia coming on for Odhiambo in the 72nd minute. In the 80th minute, making four changes on the bounce in efforts to restore parity. In came Sydney Wahongo, Bryson Wangai, Paul Ochuoga and Patrick Kaddu for Philemon Otieno, Alpha Onyango, Geofrey and Peter Lwasa, but they proved not to be effective.
The result now means Gor Mahia are one point behind league leaders Tusker FC who are on 64 points after 30 league games played.
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