Gor Mahia Held Again as Bandari Fight Back to Force a 1-1 Draw in Mombasa

Gor Mahia travelled to the coast seeking redemption after consecutive losses and appeared determined to shake off the frustrations of recent fixtures. The match, however, unfolded as a tight, slow-burning contest with few clear chances in the early stages. Their first major opening arrived after ten minutes when Shariff Musa rose to meet an Austin Odhiambo freekick but failed to guide his header on target.

Bandari responded through Ramadhan Juma who forced goalkeeper Byrne Omondi into a smart save with a powerful strike from outside the box in the twenty-second minute. The hosts gradually grew into the contest, but it was Gor Mahia who found the breakthrough.

Half an hour in, Musa produced one of the game’s standout moments with a lively sprint down the right flank. He whipped in a precise low cross that found Ghanaian forward Ebenezer Adu Kwaw charging into the penalty area. The Bandari defence failed to track his movement, leaving him free to sweep the ball home for a 1-0 lead.

Gor Mahia went into halftime in control, but Bandari returned with renewed purpose. Their equaliser arrived twelve minutes into the second half after Abadallah Hassan delivered a pinpoint freekick into the danger zone. Geoffrey Ojunga, formerly of the Gor Mahia youth setup, attacked the ball with conviction and headed past Omondi to make it 1-1.

The goal lifted the Dockers and energised the home crowd. Bandari played with greater confidence for the remainder of the match but struggled to convert half chances into something meaningful. Gor Mahia looked dangerous on the break and nearly snatched a winner at the death.

In the final seconds, Patrick Esombe found space after another well-weighted pass from Odhiambo. Instead of taking the shot, he opted to square the ball toward Musa who was too far away to connect. It was a squandered opportunity that perfectly illustrated Gor Mahia’s recent struggles in front of goal.

The result leaves K’Ogalo without a win in their last three matches, having collected just one point from a possible nine against APS Bomet, AFC Leopards, and Bandari. Even so, they remain on top of the Kenyan Premier League table with twenty points from eleven matches, level with Kenya Police and Kakamega Homeboyz. Homeboyz have played one match more while Kenya Police retain a game in hand.

Bandari will view the draw as a positive step as they seek stability after recent changes in their technical bench. Gor Mahia, meanwhile, will need a quick response to avoid losing momentum in a title race that is tightening by the week.