APR have lost 3-1 to Gor Mahia after two late goals gave the home side a well-earned victory in a African Champions League preliminary round second-leg match played at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
The victory saw the record Kenyan premier league champions secure a ticket to the first round of the continental competition where they will either meet CR Belouizdad of Algeria or Libya’s El Nasr.
Gor Mahia went into the match needing a comfortable win for them to progress after a 2-1 loss in the first-leg played in Kigali last Saturday.
APR went close in the early stages after Djabel Manishimwe was brought down in the box by Andrew Juma but Jacques Tuyisenge didn’t have enough power to send the penalty past Gad Mathews.
At the other end of the park, Umar Dayishenga was forced into a great save to deny Tito Okello moments later.
While APR were struggling to put together much attacking impetus, Gor Mahia were coming into the game with a plenty of raids into the army men half.
In the 17th minute, Samuel Onyango found the back of the net after connecting a free-kick delivered by Keneth Muguna.
APR threatened to go level nine minutes before half time off Tuyisenge’s left-footed free-kick from the far side, but the delivery narrowly missed the far corner of Mathews’ goal.
The Army men came out guns blazing after the break and created chance after chance.
Thierry Manzi fired a rasping shot inches wide of goal in the 49th minute as pressure mounted on the K’Ogalo defence.
Gor Mahia introduced Cliffton Miheso and Sydney Otieno for Tito Okello, Bernard Ondiek respectively with 51 minutes in.
Miheso had to be at his best four minutes later to keep Oliver Niyonzima’s attempted clearance from finding the back of his own net.
Manzi then missed from point-blank range as APR continued to knock on Gor Mahia’s door.
On the 83rd minute, the visitors found an equalizer courtesy of Keddy Nsanzimfura’s thunderbolt that went into the top corner from 22-yards out.
On the 85th minutes Nsanzimfura almost found his third goal when some sublime skill saw him break into the box, but he fired his low 14-yard shot inches wide of the target.
Five minutes later, Gor Mahia did find their second goal courtesy of Sydney Otieno. The attacking midfielder got onto the ball that was delivered from the left wing before sending a powerful header into the back of the net.
The result was put beyond doubt in the 94th minute thanks to Nicholas Kipkirui header from a well-delivered corner.
APR tried to find some consolation after that, but K’Ogalo held on for a comfortable win.
Photo credit: Nation. Africa
