Gor Mahia 1 City Stars 0: K'ogallo deservedly beat City

Baldin Ngwa strikes as K’Ogallo beats City Stars. He came off the bench after the break, took only a minute in the pitch and scored the only goal of the game to give Gor Mahia a one nil win over City Stars as they prepare for continental duties.

Starting line ups.



The starting line-ups.

Gor Mahia went into this match with a 4-4-2 diamond formation (4-1-2-1-2) with Demonde Selenga and Hugo Nzoka spearheading the attack. Ndonyo played as the advanced playmaker with Emmanuel sitting deep in the midfield flanked by Kiplang’at and Mubiru. Solomon Nasio was at his preferred right full back and Collins Omondi the left full back. Felix and Mugona were the centre backs. Kasaya was given a start ahead of the benched Mapunda and the rested Jerry Onyango.

City Stars had Ronnie Kanguzi between the sticks. John Amboko and Andrew Mark Ongwae were the full backs. In central defense were Francis Akong’o and Nicholas Ochieng’. Boniface Onyango started as the holding midfielder.

City Stars’ approach.

City went into this match with a 4-1-3-2 formation. David King’ata, Dennis Omondi and Levy Muaka, who seemed to have the freedom to move up and down the pitch, were behind the two strikers – Alex Nyamweno and Collins Tiego. They were submissive in the entire game and depended on counter attacks which didn’t bear any result in the end. In fact, the few chances they had were corner kick and set pieces. 

 

Gor Mahia’s tactics.

K’Ogalo started with a 4-4-2 Diamond formation in the opening phase of the game. But as the game progressed, they dominated the midfield area pushing City Stars into its own defensive third. Démodé Selenga was tightly marked and to free himself, he was forced to drop deep and join up with the midfielders and Hugo Nzoka left as the lone strike. With Selenga deep, Gor temporarily switched to 4-1-4-1 with Selenga and Odonyo being flanked by Kiplang’at and Mubiru. And Emmanuel holding.

The Gattuso Effect.

An injury forced the inexperienced Emmanuel out mid way through the first half period. In came the more experienced Collins “Gattuso” Okoth. With Gattuso, Gor Mahia seemed more comfortable in the midfield area. He broke up attacks, received the ball from the back four, created attacks from deep and gave the back four the much needed protection. Gor Mahia were more creative and attacking with Gattuso on board – trying not to hype him to much but he will be their important player come next season.

Gor went 4-4-1/-4-1-3-1 after Gattuso was sent off.




Gor Mahia switched to a 4-4-1/4-1-3-1 formation after he was red carded. Ngwa moved wide, Victor Ali became more centrally positioned together with Moses Otieno – though sometimes Otieno was stationed behind Ali. George Midenyo was left alone in the striking position.

Conclusion.

Gor Mahia have managed to control the midfield area whenever they’ve had Collins “Gattuso” Okoth in the pitch but they've had slight problems high up the pitch - lacking a more skilful player in the hole. This becomes a major setback when they face teams that sit deep waiting to catch them on the break.

City Stars on the other hand were pinned in their own half in several periods – except after Gattuso was red carded – but still couldn’t break Gor Mahia's defense block. With the wingers, Muaka and King’atua, cutting in when they had the ball, the full backs didn’t provide the width they needed in breaking forward.

It was a typical friendly match with both Anaba Awono and Gideon Ochieng' trying out their several players and tactics throughout the match as they prepare for the new campaign. Actually, both teams didn't emphasis in out-scoring the opponent - a charity match.