Visiting Ulinzi Stars held Nairobi City Stars to a 0-0 draw in a 25th round FKF Premier League tie hosted in Ruaraka on Sunday 10 April 2022.
The result, the sixth home draw against Ulinzi in 12 Premier League games, left City Stars at third with 42 points as Ulinzi ended a two-game losing streak to grab a point and improve to 27 points, and up a place to the 13th spot.
It was a high tempo and physical game of very few chances by either side. It took 11 minutes for the first attempt on goal to arrive after City Stars right-back Kevin Chumsy Okumu burst into the box to fire a low cross into the box. But there was no one to connect to it.
The next minute, physicality began to show and Churchill Muloma went straight to the referees’ book with a yellow card after continued checks on Sven Yidah.
Ulinzi Stars then responded to Chumsy’s effort within two from Masita Masuta who burst into the box only to fire straight at keeper Jacob Osano. He was at it four minutes later but fired wide
On 18 minutes, dead-ball specialist Daniel Waweru fired a freekick from good range above bar as Ulinzi went searching for the opener. A minute later Clinton Omondi grabbed a pass in the box but though within meters of goal, fired wired.
The real action in the first half came in the dying minutes of the half when, on 37 minutes, City Stars stopper Lennox Ogutu had to head out a goal-bound cross on the line from Ulinzi skipper Brian Birgen. It resulted in a fruitless corner.
City Stars responded to that near-miss with one of their own two minutes later when skipper Ezekiel Odera picked an unmarked Oliver Maloba outside the box with a fine pass from midfield. Maloba fired at goal that was parried back in play by goalkeeper James Saruni which gloriously fell on the feet of John Kamau. Without hesitation, he fired, wide, when it was easier to score.
Four minutes later, Stephen Etyang was picked out in the box with a fine pass from Harun Mwale but took a touch too many to fire wide in what was the last action of the first half.
Within the first ten minutes of the second half, City Stars could not account for four corners and a freekick. Within the next five minutes, Ulinzi had a missed chance from Clinton who fired wide and had two wasted corners.
Immediately after, City Stars spurned a chance when Timothy Ouma’s pass found Kamau who failed to aim well at goal for yet another miss.
At the 70th minute the City Stars subs came on with Erick Ombija, Davis Agesa, and Augustine Kuta arriving for Kamau, defensive-mid Charles Otieno who started his first game of the season, and Maloba, in that order.
Ulinzi responded two minutes later with the arrival of John Kago and Kelvin Thairu for Muloma and Waweru.
Nicholas Kipkirui and Mike Madoya later came on for Odera and Ouma as Ulinzi replaced Masuta with Enosh Ochieng.
But there were to be no goals, but just yellow cards to Clinton for Ulinzi, Ouma who now misses the next game, and to Chumsy for City Stars.
The two teams meet again over the Easter weekend in the reverse fixture.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 19. Kevin Okumu, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 4. Salim Abdalla, 28. Herit Mungai, 3. Charles Otieno (11. Davis Agesa-66), 18. Sven Yidah, 20. Timothy Ouma (5. Michael Madoya-87), 21. Oliver Maloba (29. Augustine Kuta-66), 15. John Kamau (24. Eric Ombija-66), 32. Ezekiel Odera (17. Nicholas Kipkirui-73)
Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 8. Calvin Masawa, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 9. Vincent Otieno
Coach: Nicholas Muyoti
Ulinzi Stars: 1. James Saruni, 35. Brian Birgen, 30. Harun Mwale, 12. Bonventure Muchika, 31. Boniface Andayi, 21. Bernard Ongoma, 6.Churchil Muloma (8. John Kago-68), 7. Clinton Omondi, 22. Masita Masuta (25. Enosh Ochieng-83), 11. Stephen Etyang, 26. Daniel Waweru (32. Kelvin Thairu-68)
Unused subs: 13. Stephen Ochieng, 16. Peter Wafula, 2. Byron Odiaga, 3. Antonio Abwao, 17. Mark Bikokwa, 33. Julius Okutu
Coach: Benjamin Nyangweso
Cautions
Nairobi City Stars: 20. Timothy Ouma (78), 19. Kevin Okumu (88)
Ulinzi Stars: 6. Churchil Muloma (12), 7. Clinton Omondi (71)