Kenyan giants Gor Mahia went down 2-1 to APR of Rwanda in a Caf Champions League preliminary round encounter in Kigali on Saturday.
Niyonzima Seif and an own goal by Andrew Juma gave the hosts the victory while the only goal for the Green Army was scored by Charles Momanyi.
After Boniface Oluoch had made a key save to keep the score at 0-0 in the seventh minute, but Gor Mahia conceded three minutes later when they went down to a Seif’s strike.
K’Ogalo equalised in the 27th minute when defender Momanyi rose to meet Kenneth Muguna’s free-kick and superbly found the back of the net.
With the equaliser, the Kenyan side looked a more stable side and dealt with attacks from their host with palpable calmness.
Gor Mahia made a change in the 53rd minute when Bertrand Konfor, who was making his competitive debut, paved the way for winger Clifton Miheso.
Miheso saw his 56th-minute attempt from outside the box flew just wide as APR introduced Jacques Tuyisenge to face a side he won three Premier League titles with before he left in 2019.
Gor Mahia went behind again in the 63rd-minute when Juma, signed from Mathare United to replace Joash Onyango, conceded an own goal.
The Kenyan side made a change in the 67th minute as another debutant Tito Okello, was substituted and Nicholas Kipkirui was brought on in order to fire up the attacking department.
The changes made by stand-in coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo did not pay off with a goal, but the one scored away may end up being vital in the return leg in December at Nyayo Stadium.