Visiting Vihiga United collected a point off hosts Nairobi City Stars on Wednesday 23 December 2020 in a fifth round Premier League game played at Utalii Grounds starting 1pm. It ended 1-1.
Vihiga punished a wasteful City Stars with a 43rd minute opener when, against the run of play, big unit David Simiyu got ahead of Herit Mungai to power in a header at the near post after connecting well a long left sided cross from Lesley Owino.
The game was level soon after restart, in the 48th minute, after Oliver Maloba zoomed into the box to square a pass for Sven Yidah to head in from close range. It was his first ever goal for City Stars.
The results keeps Simba wa Nairobi fifth on the log with eight points and Vihiga United at tenth with four points as both sides close shop for the year.
As early as the second minute City Stars registered the first danger of the game with a freekick that right back Azizi Okaka sent wide.
Vihiga had a response two minutes to the half hour mark when Mark Mkala powered a header just wide off a cross from right back Johnson Muyesu. Mkalla was to send another header wide seven minutes later off a freekick.
Two minutes later Oliver Maloba drove the ball to the Vihiga box but youngster Timothy Babu Ouma failed to get a firm shot on it.
Then came the goal from Simiyu just a minute after Herit Mungai, City Stars left back, had seen his long range shot picked up by keeper Morgan Alube who initiated the counter that led to the goal at the other end.
City Stars started the game with pressure leading to Sven’s early goal. Just four minutes later it could have been 2-1 for City Stars had Babu not seen his close ranger echo off the base of the upright.
The post came to Vihiga’s rescue once again to deny Sven a brace off a cross from sub Jimmy Bageya who had come on for Babu.
Vihiga too had their chances to collect the spoils as sub Junior Adeyefa – on for scorer David Simiyu at the hour mark – saw his long range pile driver in the 73rd minute just whisk wide off a counter attack.
Perhaps the best they had was in the 80th minute when another sub Alex Imbusia smacked goalward a 30-yarder only for City Stars keeper Steve Njunge to parry it out for a fruitless corner.
No further action could separate the teams as the two teams had to share points for a third time in Nairobi in the last four years.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 28. Herit Mungai Atariza (8. Calvin Masawa-66′ – captain from 72′), 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 27. Azizi Okaka, 10. Peter Opiyo, 18. Sven Yidah , 20. Timothy Ouma (19. Jimmy Bageya-60), 30. Anthony Kimani-Captain((2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-72), 21. Oliver Maloba (7. Rodgers Okumu-60), 32. Ezekiel Odera (24. Erick Ombija-72)
Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 12. Edwin Buliba, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth
Not considered: 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 3. Charles Otieno, 11. Davis Agesa, 16. Jacob Osano, 5. Wesley Onguso, 15. John Kamau, 17. Yusuf Mukisa Lubowa
Coach: Sanjin Alagic
Vihiga United: 30. Morgan Alube, 28. Johnston Muyesu, 4. Michael Odongo, 14. Sammy Sindani, 25. Norman Werunga (C), 15. Mark Okalla, 5. Wycliffe Nthatha, 24. Lesley Owino, 10. Hillary Otieno [(16. Alex Imbusia-60 (36. Henry Juma-90+), 23. David Simiyu ((21. Junior Adeyefa-60), 40. Dennis Wafula 20. Meshack Makokha-78)
Unused subs: Michael Matiso (GK), 25. Kevin Omondi, 17. Lawrence Luvanda, 8. Patrick Ongaya, 19. Michael Isabwa,
Coach: Sammy Okoth
Goals: David Simiyu (Vihiga United-43), Sven Yidah (Nairobi City Stars-48)
Yellow cards: 24. Lesley Owino-52, 21. Junior Adeyefa-69, 4. Michael Odongo-86 (Vihiga United)//10. Peter Opiyo-45′ (Nairobi City Stars)
Match Officials: Edward Wabungu (Match Comm), Meshack Omwami (Centre Ref), Dorine Kendi (AR 1), Emmanuel Barasa (AR 2), Simon Ogaga (Reserve Ref)
Nairobi City Stars shared spoils (1-1) with Vihiga United in a fifth round Premier League game on Wed 22 Dec 2020 at Utalii grounds. Pictured – goal scorer Sven Yidah (18)and Azizi Okaka (21)