Home team Nairobi City Stars was held to a 0-0 draw by visiting Ushuru FC in a National Super League (NSL) round 14 tie at the Hope Centre on Wednesday 13 November, 2019.
The point earned sent league leaders Simba Wa Nairobi to the 36-point mark to maintain their six point gap over the chasing pack as Ushuru moved to the 21-point mark but still held on to sixth spot.
Watched by a capacity crowd, City Stars could have activated the score sheet within seconds of kick off when winger David Gateri whipped in a cross from the left that Oliver Maloba one-time goal ward but a keen Nashon Nanyendo in the Ushuru back line cleared it for an abortive corner.
As the game wore on such chances were rare on either end till City Stars winger Davis Agesa whacked a short from distance wide midway through the first half.
The introduction of Jimmy Bageya for David Gateri in the second half upped the tempo of the game but Ushuru countered the same by bringing on Michael Osundwa to juice up their frontline.
But it was to end even after ninety minutes as Ushuru, for a fourth straight NSL season, denied City Stars a home win.
Speaking after the game, City Stars head coach Sanjin Alagic had this to say;
“It was a hard match in Hope Centre and a little difficult to play on that surface compared to Toyoyo. It wasn’t bad as Ushuru did not trouble us which means were good defensively,”
He then spoke of missed chances that could have changed the course of the game; “We missed last passes when we had some good situations as we did not react the right way.”|
Coming to the game, City Stars carried a 1-0 win over FC Talanta as Ushuru tagged along with a 2-0 Camp Toyoyo loss to Bidco United last Friday.
Next up for City Stars is a home game against Muranga Seal as Ushuru hosts Coast Stima at Ruaraka.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 23. Levis Opiyo, 5. Wesley Onguso, 4. Salim Abdalla (Captain), 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 28. Kevin Okumu, 3. Charles Otieno, 25. David Gateri (18. Jimmy Bageya), 17. Davis Agesa (8. Heritier Luvualu), 21. Oliver Maloba (16. Vincent Otieno), 2. Elvis Ojiambo, 29. Ebrima Sanneh
Unused subs: 1. Ronny Kagunzi, 17. Noah Abich, 13. Eric Ochieng, 12. Edwin Buliba
Yellow cards; None
MVP; Salim Abdalla
Coach: Sanjin Alagic
Ushuru FC: 1. Bonface Baraza, 25. Jackton Opanda, 3. Evans Makari Maliachi, 15. Nashon Nanyendo , 24.George Odira, 17. Luis Masika, 7. Barrack Odhiambo, 6. Sebastian Osodo, 4. Brian Okeyo, 9. Brian Yakhama, 11. Alex Juma
Subs: 30. Charles Okeyo, 5. Frederick Kentile, 2. Victor Ochieng, 12. Jeremiah Wanjala, 8. Edwin Mwaura, 10. Oscar Mbugua, 14. Michael Osundwa
Coach: James ‘Odijo’ Omondi Otieno