The limping Leopards hoped on luck to win their match against Gor, as they went into the game disoriented against the on-song champions.
And as lover's day is in the offing; it is not a throb affair for AFC Leopards after succumbing to bitter rivals Gor Mahia in 'Valentine's Mashemeji derby' edition.
Leopards went into the match staring defeat as they limped on 15th place on the table with 10 points from 11 matches, compared to the resurgent Gor who have regained their form after an awful start to the season and sat then 4th in the log with 19 points albeit, a match shy of Leopards.
The Saturday, Valentine's edition was the 85th league clash of the Mashemeji derby.
And the odds favored hosts Gor Mahia who headed into the game having won 27 times, same as Leopards and shared spoils in 31 meetings.
Leopards couldn't ride on anything other than luck; as the past derby had proved that the weak team prevails.
AFC had last beaten Gor Mahia 1 - 0 on 16th, March 2016 and since then Gor Mahia has defeated Ingwe in last six outings with the last season tie between the two teams ending, 2 - 1 and 2 - 0 in favor of K'Ogalo.
Thus, going by form there was no hope for Leopards replicating the 2016 win.
Leopards are still struggling despite the arrival of the new coach, Rwandese Andre Casa Mbungo, who came barely days after Serb Marko Vasiljevic threw in the towel thanks to 4 - 1 drubbing by Bandari FC.
Mbungo reception has been hostile, tasting two defeats in a row. 2 - 1 lose to league strugglers Mount Kenya United and Gor's defeat.
It turned out to be a different story on Saturday, as Leopards were reduced to defend and watch Gor dictate things.
In contrast, Gor Mahia looked unperturbed by Leopards, coming on the backdrop of a good run; having beaten Vihiga United 1 - 0 on Wednesday and 4 - 2 triumph over Egypt's giants Zamalek.
However, all is not lost for Leopards as Mbungo has a clear cut assignment; to work on his leaky defense line, goalkeeping, defending set pieces and his attack line that lack the cutting edge up front and looks undecided in front of goal.
Meanwhile, Gor Mahia have proven dominant over Ingwe and will be in good spirits ahead of Wednesday’s CAF Confederations Cup trip to Petro Atletico in Luanda, Angola.
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