31 Oct 2021
NCS, Team News
October 31, 2021 Patrick

‘Muki’ earns City Stars point from Rangers

City Stars, Muki

A well-orchestrated goal by field skipper Anthony Muki Kimani in the 52nd minute canceled out Brian Marita’s freekick in the 36th minute to force a 1-1 draw for City Stars against Posta Rangers in a fifth-round FKF Premier League tie played at the Thika Stadium on Saturday 30 October 2021.

It was the eighth Posta Rangers – City Stars premiership draw registered in eleven encounters since the year 2010.

Muki – later name MVP – had given away a freekick just outside the box that Marita planted home for the opener to send Rangers with a 1-0 advantage at the break.

Interestingly, from the same spot he gave away the foul, Muki slammed home a sumptuous goal seven minutes after the restart after getting to the end of an Ezekiel Odera lay-up. Odera had been picked out in the box by teenager Timothy Ouma aka Babu.

Simba wa Nairobi’s game plan was distorted very early on when forward Nicholas Kipkirui was forced out of the game as early as the 17th minute after receiving a cut above his right eye when going up for a knockdown.

He had been forced out of a game against Wazito at the same grounds in similar circumstances close to a week back. On both occasions, he was replaced by speedster Rodgers Okuse Okumu.

Four minutes into the game, Rangers’ had the first real chance to activate the scoresheet when Vincent Wasambo arrived in the box only to send a ball just wide with City Stars keeper Jacob Osano beaten.

City Stars had a chance to go 1-0 up in the 20th minute when Okuse, with a darting run, found himself at a vantage spot in the box to receive a Timothy Ouma pinpoint pass. He shockingly skied the ball.

That was two minutes after Muki had blasted a freekick into the Posta wall after Victor Majid had fouled Ouma.

Five minutes after that freekick, Okuse rounded his marker only to take the ball out with his speed when the intent was to deliver a cutback.

On 28 minutes Ouma burst into the Rangers box only to be mugged off the ball as Rangers neutralized the danger.

The next minute Rangers were in the City Stars box only for Lennox, a former Mathare United stopper, to lunge at the ball to clear it out.

Two minutes later it was another freekick for City Stars outside the box won by Ouma. Dennis Wanjala effort earned an unsuccessful corner.

The breather arrived with a Davis Agesa header, off a Kevin Chumsy Oumu delivery, flying wide.

In the second half, the real danger, other than City Stars leveler from Muki, came off Rangers skipper Eliud Lokuwam who, found in space, burst into the box but just before he pulled the trigger. stopper Kenedy Vidic Onyango knicked the ball from his feet to save Rangers from going 2-1 up.

A minute after the hour mark, Rangers initiated a counter-attack, off a cleared corner by City Stars, that ended up at the side netting. Chrispinus Ochieng got to the final ball then beat keeper Osano only to be forced to a tight angle by Lennox to fire out.

At the 70th minute Rangers midfielder, Majid received a yellow card after a nasty tackle on Muki who thought he should have received a harsher punishment.

Majid was replaced almost immediately by Jackson Dwang. He was accompanied out by Chrispinus whose place was taken up by Sammy Odero.

The final quarter of the game saw Rangers add more attackers; Dennis Oalo, Francis Nambute, and later Timothy Otieno but City Stars defenders stood tall to the very end.

With a point, from the eighth draw in the 11 games against Posta Rangers, City Stars stays second on the 18-team log with ten points, three points ahead of their eighth-placed Saturtday hosts.

Next up for City Stars is a home game against topflight newcomers Vihiga Bullets on Sunday 7 November 2021 at the Hope Centre starting 3 pm.

Lineups

Posta Rangers: 29. John Njau, 28. Sammy Imbuye, 18. Michael Apudo, 17. Bernard Ondiek, 5. David Cheche Ochieng, 8. Victor Majid (10. Jackson Dwang-72), 39. Brian Marita (12. Francis Nambute-76), 4. Vincent Wasambo, 11. Eliud Lokuwam-Captain (14. Timothy Otieno-83), 31. Chrispinus Onyango (24. Sammy Odero-72), 40. Caleb Olilo (7. Dennis Oalo-76)

Unsued Subs: 34. Kevin Opiyo (GK), 2. Sammy Misseh, 41. Dinken Mwema, 30. Steiner Musasia,

Coach: Stanley Okumbi

Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 19. Kevin Okumu, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Sven Yidah, 30. Anthony Kimani-captain, 20. Timothy Ouma (5. Mike Madoya-85), 11. Davis Agesa (21. Oliver Maloba-46), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (7. Rodgers Okumu-17), 32. Ezekiel Odera (24. Erick Ombija-65)

Unused subs: 23. Stephen Njunge, 8. Calvin Masawa, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 4. Salim Abdallah, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth

Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 22. Wycliffe Otieno (both injured) 1. Elvis Ochoro,  10. Peter Opiyo,  12. Edwin Buliba, 14. Rowland Makati, 15. John Kamau, 28. Herit Mungai, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 3. Charles Otieno

Coach: Nicholas Muyoti

Yellow cards
87-24. Erick Ombija (Nairobi City Stars)
69 -8. Victor Majid (Posta Rangers)
60-21. Oliver Maloba (Nairobi City Stars)

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