Heartbreak for Gor Mahia in Nairobi, loose 3 - 2 to Esperance

Gor Mahia could not repeat their 1987 heroics over Tunisian giants Esperance as the visitors won the first leg of their Caf Champions League clash 3-2 in Nairobi on Saturday.

The Kenyan champions had a great start to the game and won a penalty in the 13th minute after Chamebine Daquadi was adjudged to have fouled Kevin Omondi in the box though replays showed there was little or no contact.

Dan Sserunkuma stepped forward to take the penalty and sent the keeper the wrong way to claim his second goal of the tournament.

The lead, however, lasted just seven minutes as a misplaced header by Musa Mohamed gifted Ahned Akaichi possession in the Gor Mahia box. The Tunisian’s first shot bounced off Haron Shakava and with the ball falling in his path, he picked the near post with the second shot and beat Jerim Onyango.

The teams went to the break balanced at 1 – 1 and on resumption, Sserunkuma thought he had scored his second on the 47th minute after picking Anthony Akumu’s pass but he was flagged offside and four minutes later the keeper tipped his effort out for a corner.

The Tunisian side built up patiently and a foray forward on 62 minutes left the Gor Mahia defence in shambles as Yannick Ndjeng slotted Harrison Afful’s cross in an unguarded goal for the second goal.

Two minutes later he should have added his second when he rose to meet Jerim’s spilt ball but he headed narrowly over.

Haron Shakava threw Gor Mahia a lifeline in the 77th minute when he rose well to direct Joseph Wanyonyi’s corner home with a free header much to the delight of the crowd.

Sserunkuma should have won it three minutes later when Gor Mahia went on the counter but his attempted curling effort had too much power and went wide.

The home side was made to pay for the wastefulness as Haithan Jouiwi broke free on the left and cut in but his shot bounced off the bar before Afful controlled well to tee him up for the third goal on 89 minutes.

Godfrey Walusimbi had an attempt with a long shot deep in time added on but his drive was punched out for a corner.

The loss leaves Gor Mahia with an uphill task when they head to Tunis in a week’s time as they are required to score twice and not concede in order to make it to the next phase of the competition.