Gor Mahia’s CAF Champions League campaign ended on Sunday night as went down 5-1 by Pyramids FC in the preliminary round return leg at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo.
The result sent Gor Mahia crashing out 7-1 on aggregate, having lost the first leg 2-0 in Nairobi.
Despite trailing by two goals, coach Charles Akonnor’s men arrived in Cairo hopeful after a week of solid preparations. Those hopes evaporated quickly as the quality gap became apparent.
The hosts came out firing, pinning Gor Mahia deep in their own half for the opening fifteen minutes. The boys weathered the storm until the 26th minute when Walid El Karti rose unopposed to head home the opener.
Pyramids doubled their lead in the 38th minute through another defensive lapse, with Nasser Maher slotting home with ease.
Paul Okoth squandered a golden opportunity moments later when David Okoth delivered an inviting cross that striker Paul Okoth inexplicably failed to convert from close range.
That miss proved pivotal. In the 45th minute, a third defensive blunder allowed Youssef Obama to finish clinically and make it 3-0.
Yet Gor Mahia showed character. Two minutes into stoppage time, winger David Okoth pulled one back with a well-worked effort, sending the teams into the break at 3-1.
The second half was a different story, we emerged aggressively, pressing high and pinning Pyramids back for the opening 15 minutes.
Cheered on by Kenyan fans in Egypt who remarkably outnumbered the home supporters, K’Ogalo produced some attractive football.
David Okoth was at the heart of everything, tormenting the Pyramids defence with pace and trickery while creating a string of chances.
The pressure nearly paid off when Paul Okoth tapped in from a David Okoth cross, only for his celebration to be cut short by the offside flag.
With nothing to lose, Gor Mahia kept pushing forward, forcing the hosts to dig deep and make tactical changes. Midway through the half, the match balanced out, with Pyramids content to manage the game and run down the clock.
Just as it appeared the match would end 3-1, a costly blunder in the 90th minute gifted Pyramids a fourth goal through Mostafa Ziko.
Two minutes later, Mostafa Ziko completed his brace and seal a comprehensive 5-1 victory.
A furious head coach Charles Akonnor did not mince his words after the match, blaming individual errors for four of the five goals conceded.
“What they did in the second half was a matter of aggression. We lost the ball in midfield and we were going forward hoping to get another goal and an equaliser, but at this level we can’t perform like that, especially when you are playing against such a team.
“The mistakes and errors we made are not acceptable. They were elementary ones. At that level, you can’t do such mistakes.”
