Nairobi City Stars took down Mathare United 2-0 at Kasarani Annex in a belated round 14 Premier League game played on the afternoon of Tuesday 2 March 2021.
Maiden goals by left back Bolton Omwenga and a final one by flyer Rodgers Okuse Okumu on either half handed Simba wa Nairobi a third straight Premier League win.
Mathare United, who last payed City Stars back in 2016, will feel hard done by the loss as they pinned the hosts for long spells with dominant attacking and wide play.
Just before the half hour mark Bolton received a short pass from Peter Pinchez Opiyo and with a long range floater beat Mathare keeper Job Ochieng who fluffed the dinking ball to his own net for the opener.
And right at the death, bench power saw City Stars double their lead when Okuse sliced through the Mathare backline to meet a cross from teenage sub Timothy Noor Ouma to fire at the far post. A finger tip on the ball from Ochieng in goal failed to stop the ball from rolling home.
Two minutes into the game Oliver Maloba received a cross from the left by Omwenga but he miscued the ball towards the right corner while within meters of goal.
Within the next ten minutes City Stars backline went to over drive to clear Mathare raids starting with a Bolton halt on James Kinyanjui before Kenedy Vidic Onyango forced out for dangerous ball for a corner that yielded two more that Mathare wasted.
16 minutes in, Sven Yidah skied a short pass from Maloba as City Stars put in a response to Mathare runs.
Minutes later the ball was back in City Stars box when Mathare’s Tyson Otieno – with a man of the match performance all through – fed Kinyanjui who blasted wide.
Moments later Ebrima Sanneh had two near misses after he broke into the box only to fire a shot across goal before powering a Kevin Chumsy Okumu freekick above bar.
Then the turning point came in the 28th minute when Omwenga directed a long range shot goalward to beat Ochieng in goal for his first City Stars goal.
Then came nervy moments that could have seen Mathare in the game with goals before half time. A Kiyanjui cross found James Mavado Mwangi who hit the side netting and not too long after Kinyanjui himself had a shot fired wide and one other tipped away by City Stars keeper Njunge as the game rolled to half time.
Within the restart after the break, Maloba was bullied off the ball after making a solo run in the box. Not too long after he had a shot from range fly just wide.
Then came a real chance for Mathare on the other end when half time substitute Dani Lual, on for Alphonse Ndonye, received the ball in the box only to fire across goal only for Bolton to clear it out before it was tapped home.
The chances continued to present themselves for either side till the final minute when Okuse sneaked past both stoppers Martin Werunga and Lennox Ogutu to add a second for City Stars for his first ever Premiership goal.
With the latest win City Stars shoots to the 19-point mark after 14 games to move up four places from 12th to eighth in the 18-team log.
Mathare United on their part remain 16th with nine points from 11 games.
Up next for Simba wa Nairobi is an away game against title chasing AFC Leopards on Saturday 6 March 2021 at Kasarani starting 3pm.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 19. Kevin Okumu, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 26. Balton Omwenga, 18. Sven Yidah (3. Charles Otieno-83), 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Anthony Kimani-Captain (7. Rodgers Okumu-67) 21. Oliver Maloba, 29. Ebrima Sanneh (20. Timothy Ouma-83), 24. Erick Ombija (11. Davis Agesa-60)
Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 32. Ezekiel Odera, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 8. Calvin Masawa, 5. Wesley Onguso
Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 12. Edwin Buliba, 15. John Kamau, 16. Jacob Osano, 27. Azizi Okaka, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo
Coach: Sanjin Alagic
Mathare United: 30. Job Ochieng (GK), 20. Martin Ongori, 17. Martin Werunga, 23. Lennox Ogutu, 25. Norman Ogola, 29. Chris Oduor-Captain, 11. Tyson Otieno (15. Bonface Akenga-88), 8. Alphonse Ndonye (9. Dani Lual-46), 10. James Kinyajui, 13. John Mwangi (3. Khalid Jumaan-64), 27. Daniel Otieno (24. Klinsman Omulanga-79)
Unused subs: 1. David Okelo (GK), 7. Danson Kago, 19. Anthony Otieno, 12. David Simiyu, 6. Dennis Ochieng
Coach: Salim Ali
Yellow cards: 11. Tyson Otieno-37, 25. Norman Ogola-44 (Mathare United)//Bolton Omwenga-90 (Nairobi City Stars)
Goals: Bolton Omwenga-28, Rodgers Okumu-90 (Nairobi City Stars)
Match Officials: Maurice Matani (Match Comm), Davis Malungo (Centre Ref), Victor Shituku (AR1), George Mwangi (AR2), Wilson Otieno (4th Official)
Bolton Omwenga who scored his maiden goal for City Stars was named MVP after a mathc day 14 Premier League game against Mathare United. City Stars won 2-0