Gor Mahia staged a resounding comeback on Sunday, overwhelming South Sudan’s El Merreikh Bentiu with a 5-1 victory at Nyayo National Stadium, securing a place in the first round of the CAF Champions League against Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
Rooney Onyango, returning to the lineup after missing the first leg, delivered a stellar performance with a brace, while Chris Ochieng, Alpha Onyango, and Alphonse Omija each found the back of the net, marking Gor Mahia’s triumphant return in their first competitive home match of the season.
This dominant win was a powerful response from the record Kenyan Premier League champions, who faced a narrow 1-0 defeat in the first leg of the preliminaries in Juba the previous week.
The match began with an early jolt as Samuel Abinkinu scored for Merreikh just eight minutes in, giving the visitors a temporary advantage. However, Gor Mahia quickly equalized four minutes later, with Ochieng capitalizing on a defensive mistake to loft the ball over the keeper.
In the 21st minute, Alpha Onyango extended Gor Mahia’s lead, converting a dangerous attack into a goal. The 35th minute saw Omija add to the tally, calmly slotting home from close range to make it 3-1.
Just before halftime, Sylvester Ahono made a crucial goal-line clearance to prevent Merreikh from narrowing the gap, allowing Gor Mahia to head into the break with a comfortable lead.
The second half began with Christopher Oduor and Shariff Sirengo both coming close to increasing the lead, but their efforts went over the bar. Oduor missed another golden opportunity in the 64th minute during a one-on-one with the keeper, but Gor Mahia’s relentless attack continued.
Despite several near misses, Gor Mahia’s persistence was rewarded in the 81st minute when Rooney scored his second goal, capping off an attack he initiated. Merreikh’s chances of a comeback were further dashed when Deng Lok’s powerful strike was brilliantly saved by Gor Mahia’s goalkeeper, Kevin Onyango.
A late goal by Merreikh was disallowed for offside, and in the dying moments, Rooney sealed the deal with his second goal, securing a commanding 5-1 victory for Gor Mahia and a 5-2 aggregate win overall.
