Gor Mahia are through to the finals of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Cup after beating Murang'a Seal 5-4 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time at Dandora Stadium on Sunday.
Gor head coach Zedekiah Otieno lauded his charges for fighting valiantly from behind to seal a spot in the finals.
"We played our hearts out. We did everything we could but minor defensive and goalkeeping blunders almost did us in. But I'm glad we eventually managed to secure a victory" he said.
Seal head coach Yusuf Chippo rued a missed opportunity to grace the international stage next season.
"I strongly feel we were the better side throughout the match and we deserved better results. We dominated play in the first half but slackened a little bit in the second. That gave our opponents the opportunity to get back into the match," he said.
Murang'a Seal's Michael Owen sent ripples of joy through their supporters by scoring a goal in the 5th minute that set the tone for the first half.
His strike, a deft finish that showcased his poaching instincts, put Gor Mahia on the back foot early on. However, as the second half commenced, the tide began to turn.
Gor Mahia responded magnificently, with Bryson Wangai equaliser in the 53rd minute through a glancing header that sent their fans into a frenzy.
The match continued to ebb and flow, with both teams displaying moments of brilliance and vulnerability.
Gor Mahia's Alpha Onyango, with a thunderous drive from 20 yards out in the 63rd minute, appeared to have given his side the upper hand.
Yet, in a twist of fate, Wilson Kamau restored parity for Murang'a Seal just nine minutes later, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of knockout football.
In a parallel narrative, the day's earlier quarterfinal match featured Mara Sugar, who pulled off a stunning upset to see off defending champions, Kenya Police.
Mara's goalkeeper, Evans Omondi, was the toast of the day, denying two crucial penalties before sealing victory with a decisive strike of his own.
Mara dominated the game from the beginning, forcing Police to chase the game for the majority of the first stanza after taking an early lead through Dennis Cheruiyot in the eleventh minute. Brian Okoth eventually equalized in the thirty-first minute.
Mara Sugar will now dare Nairobi United in the semifinals on Wednesday. Midfielder Eric Zakayo put Ouma to the test from a long distance in the first minute. However, that fast start was cut short nine minutes later when Dennis Cheruiyot beat Police custodian Job Ochieng with a deflected free kick.
