Two first-half goals by Timothy Ouma and Ezekiel Odera were enough for Nairobi City Stars to disarm Kenya Police 2-0 at Kasarani Annex on Saturday 16 October 2021.
Two first-half goals by Timothy Ouma and Ezekiel Odera were enough for Nairobi City Stars to disarm Kenya Police 2-0 at Kasarani Annex on Saturday 16 October 2021.
FULLTIME IN KASARANI
POL 0️⃣ – 2️⃣ NCS
Kumbe pia polisi anaogopa Simba.
I think now you should remove the curfew, yes?#BetterMustCome #COYSWN#???????ℕ?????? pic.twitter.com/WLQpERriEf
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) October 16, 2021
Davis Agesa and Nicholas Kipkirui provided the assists that led to goals in the 18th and 36th minutes.
With the win, City Stars ended a four-game winless streak in the premier league from last season to hand new coach Nicholas Muyoti his maiden Premier League win at Simba wa Nairobi.
Osano debut
In City Stars goal was keeper Jacob Osano who, on his premier league debut, managed a clean sheet.
Osano had been the understudy to Steve Njunge who clocked all 33 games last season, and the season opener against Sofapaka.
First-half
Police made the first statement of the game when, within the first minute, had the ball bounce off the upright after Cliffton Miheso curled a freekick from outside the box.
City Stars had a response 11 minutes later when marauding Davis Beast Agesa got into the box only to fire wide after receiving a through pass from Ezekiel Odera.
Three minutes later he had the ball straight at Police keeper Brian Reuben as Simba wa Nairobi kept prodding the home team.
Just a minute later the pressure counted as Agesa – later named MVP – turned provider with a splitting pass to Timothy Babu Ouma who fired home after skipping past a number of Police players.
David Agesa is your man of the match after creating two goals for City Stars in their 2-0 win over new entrants Police F.C#FKFPL pic.twitter.com/wUzu8e1yVc
— FKF Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) October 16, 2021
His opener on the day was his second straight premier league goal following on his maiden top-flight goal against Sofapaka in the season opener three weeks back.
The goal came after City Stars keeper Jacob Osano, on his premiership debut, stopped Alvin Mangeni’s close-range effort. He then initiated the ball that led to the goal.
Seven minutes after Babu‘s goal, Mangeni fired a ball across the goal as Police looked to level matters early. It flew wide.
Five minutes later, John Mark Makwata, on his Police debut, hammered the side netting off a Miheso corner.
Seven minutes later City Stars doubled the lead when Odera had a rising shot into the net after receiving a placement from Nicholas Kipkirui inside the box. Kipkirui had picked up the ball from Agesa who brought in a cross from the right.
At the stroke of halftime, Makwata skied a ball as Police looked to grab a consolation before the breather.
Second half
At the start of the second half, either side made their first changes. Police benched their towering skipper Okiki Arogo to bring on Charles Ouma as Collins Lusaka came on for Mangeni.
Simba wa Nairobi on their part introduced flyer Rodgers Okuse Okumu for Odera who picked an injury in the first half.
A minute after the restart Kipkirui got to the end of a good pass and fired goalward only for the ball to end up with the keeper.
At the hour mark, thereabout, Okuse did all he needed to do, but while at the penalty area chose to loop past the keeper only for the ball to be cleared before it crossed the line. It was a near-miss that could have turned the scores to a rout.
Police also pulled out imposing offensive player Clinton Kinanga two minutes to the hour mark for known scorer David Oluoch and later on in the 74th minute handed John ‘Softie’ Ndirangu his debut as he replaced injured Leslie Otieno.
But as the changes came for the law enforcers, it is City Stars that looked more dangerous with two attempts from field skipper Anthony Muki Kimani. Twice he fired out a cut back from Ouma then skied a set-piece.
City Stars then ran down the clock with the addition of Erick Jibaba Ombija and Charles Chale Otieno for Agesa – later named man of the match -, and Ouma.
Ombija had a shot on goal late in the game only for it to end up straight at the keeper in what turned out to be the final act of the game.
With the first three points of the season, City Stars flew off the red zone, leaving Police behind, to the top half of the log.
Next up for City Stars is the third season game against Wazito at Thika Stadium on Thursday 21 October 2021 starting 3 pm.
?| League Standings after match day 2
Are you happy with your teams position on the log?#FKFPL pic.twitter.com/nssHCVcP4j
— FKF Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) October 17, 2021
Lineups
Kenya Police: 31. Juma Reuben, 26. Steve Baraza, 2. Faustine Ojiambo, 6. Bernard Omondi, 14. Aroro Okiki-captain (12. Charles Ouma-46), 3. Silicho Soita, 24. Leslie Otieno (10. John Ndirangu-74), 17. Alvin Mangeni (13. Collins Lusaka-46), 23. Cliffton Miheso, 30. John Mark Makwata, 21. Clinton Kinanga (7. David Oluoch-58)
Unused subs: 1. Gideon Ogweno, 22. Kelvin Omondi, 19. Arvin Odoyo
Coach: John Bobby Ogola
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 19. Kevin Okumu, 4. Salim Abdalla, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Sven Yidah, 30. Anthony Kimani-captain, 11. Davis Agesa (24. Erick Ombija-78), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 20. Timothy Ouma (3. Charles Otieno-84, 32. Ezekiel Odera (7. Rogers Okumu-46)
Unused subs: 23. Stephen Njunge, 8. Calvin Masawa, 5. Mike Madoya, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 25. Lennox Ogutu
Coach: Nicholas Muyoti
Yellow cards:
Kenya Police: 30. John Mark Makwata (36), 12. Charles Ouma (55),
Nairobi City Stars: 7. Rodgers Okumu (62), 24. Eric Ombija (80), 18. Sven Yidah (88)
Goals: 20. Timothy Ouma (18), 32. Ezekiel Odera (36)
Man of the Match: 11. Davis Agesa (Nairobi City Stars)