Kenya’s football giants Gor Mahia made a gallant display against Everton despite losing 4-0 in a historic friendly match at the Goodison Park on Tuesday night.
K’Ogalo looked to put on the early pressure but the Toffees defense kept a cool presence in the opening seconds.
Gor were quickly pushed back and in the 16th minute Ademola Lookman struck a sumptuous opener out from Tosun’s low cross off the right.
Kieran Dowell was proving troublesome and got goal-side to flash a shot on the right narrowly wide a minute later.
The England international wasn’t to be denied for a second time as he made the next opportunity count with a well-taken finish past Boniface Oluoch following a well-executed move in the 23rd minute.
Despite trailing and looking well out of reach, K’Ogalo continued to put on a never-say-die spirit and their next effort gave a scare to Maarten Stekelenburg, who pushed Ernest Wendo shot out of danger.
The Toffees went about with business casually and nearly made it three after a quick counterattack was picked by Lookman, whose well-calculated strike was hastily cleared by Shafiq Batambuze.
After the break, Gor made wholesale changes with Humphrey Mieno, Bernard Ondiek, Peter Odhiambo amongst 10 substitutes made after half-time.
Everton continued controlling the match the way they did in the first half and were inches away from adding more through Tosun and Mina.
Odhimabo didn’t let up with his shots from range and gave it another go but Marteen held safely.
Gor nearly scored a consolation goal when substitute keeper Virginia rushed to punch out a Francis Kahata’s brilliant ball into the area but Francis Mustafa failed to hit the back of the net with the keeper down.
On the other side of the pitch, the smooth sailing nature continued for Everton, who added a third following a defensive lapse, which Nathan Broadhead capitalized on to curl past Peter Odhiambo in the 87th minute.
Two minutes later, Oumar Niase added the fourth goal after a goal inside pass from Cenk Tosun.
Though the Kenyan giants lost the match, there is more to gain than to lose as it served as an eye-opener and an avenue through which to showcase their skills to the outside world.
Teams:
Everton Starting XI: Maarten Stekelenburg, Mason Holgate, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Yerry Mina, Morgan Schneriderlin, Tom Davies, Kieran Dowell, Ademola Lookman, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Cenk Tosun
Substitutes: Joao Virginia, James McCarthy, Ounar Niasse, Beni Baningime, Nathan Broadhead, Anthony Gordon, Kyle John
Gor Mahia Starting XI: Boniface Oluoch, Karim Nizigiyimana, Shafik Batambuze, Joash Onyango, Haron Shakava, Ernest Wendo, Samuel Onyango, Philemon Otieno, Francis Mustapha, Francis Kahata, George Odhiambo
Substitutes: Shaban Odhoji, Peter Odhiambo, Charles Momanyi, Joachim Oluoch, Wesley Onguso, Wellington Ochieng, Humprey Mieno, Boniface Omondi, Lawrence Juma, Kevin Omondi, Cercidy Okeyo, Bernard Ondiek, Eliud Lokuwam
