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Gor Mahia beat City Stars 1-0 courtesy of a goal by Benson Omala, but this is why Austin Odhiambo was the man that really won them that battle.
Gor Mahia returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon with a win over surprise title challengers Nairobi City Stars on Saturday afternoon at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Saturday.
It was a statement of their intent considering the fact that they came under a lot of pressure after they lost 3-1 to Kenya Police two weeks ago, before following it up with an unconvincing draw against Ulinzi Stars a week later.
Gor won by just a goal to nil, but it is a game they could have won by more had players taken their opportunities more, and there was one man who orchestrated everything for them.
Benson Omala may have been the hero of the day by scoring the only goal in the fourth minute, but Austin Odhiambo should get more credit for the outcome of the match given his contribution floating between positions and drifting between the lines before setting up willing runners on his way.
Take the goal itself and how it got in.
Rooney Onyango is in possession of the ball, but City Stars players are quick to close him down, with Yuto Kusaba winning it but lightly before it lands onto the feet of Odhiambo.
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Odhiambo then spots Shariff Musa set to make a run, having noticed that Stars left back Dennis Wanjala is ball watching and not aware Musa is set to make the run.
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Before launching a grass-cutting ball into space towards Musa.
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Who then cuts it back to Omala to make it 1-0.
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It was not the only situation Odhiambo showed his passing prowess. He did move momentarily to the left flank where again in the 21st minute, he receives a good ball from Kevin Juma to feet.
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He drives forward with the ball before spotting Omala who makes a run into the left channel.
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Before unleashing another pass in behind that Omala fails to capitalise on.
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On so many occasions, Gor Mahia were using him as a focal point upon which he would receive the ball on the half turn and then hold on to it before allowing runners to get into good positions to influence the game, and another was in the 40th minute.
Notice how he scans around, having glimpsed to his left a little as shown below.
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Before seeing Musa has again ran in behind and so he opts to set him up.
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But Musa shoots the ball straight at the City Stars keeper.
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This drill would be repeated yet again in the second half in the 58th minute when again, Odhiambo managed to pass the ball to Musa in the 58th minute before he attempted to deliver a dangerous cross into the box which was fortunately dealt with well.
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For large parts of last season, Odhiambo was the player who would receive the ball and then look to set Benson Omala into space before attacking the box for goals.
Given the fact that teams are more intent to tight-mark Omala, the addition of Sharrif Musa, added by Odhiambo’s ability to hold the ball and assess his options before giving willing runners the ball means that the two-capped Harambee Stars striker has more freedom to attack the box with defenses being given migraines by Musa’s threat down that flank.
“He gives that energy, that directness, that sort of attacking flair on the flanks,” McKinstry said when he signed Musa in January.
Musa is certainly showing that already, but having someone like Odhiambo who can give those line breaking passes to find him for the cutbacks to goalscorers like Omala will certainly be a weapon many teams will be wary of for the remainder of the season.
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