Visiting Sofapaka scored two second-half goals to hit hosts Nairobi City Stars 2-0 in a 27th round FKF Premier League game in Ruaraka on Saturday 23 April 2022.
It ends in defeat in Ruaraka Grounds#CityStars #KPL #NCSSOF pic.twitter.com/FGgHaNe9Ap
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) April 23, 2022
A penalty by Sofapaka skipper Lawrence Juma in the 50th minute, earned after skipper Calvin Masawa brought down Titus Achesa and a follow-up goal by the same Achesa ten minutes later, off a cross by substitute Ambrose Sifuna, completed Sofapaka’s double over Simba wa Nairobi.
In between the two goals, City Stars were dealt a massive blow after midfielder Anthony Muki Kimani was slapped with a straight red card for an alleged off-the-ball elbow on Joe Waithira.
The first half had ended in silence as both sides were cautious of each other but it is Sofapaka that changed the tide of the game with the arrival of the trio of Waitihira, Imbusia, and Ojunga.
Halftime
Nothing to separate the sides.#CityStars #KPL #NCSSOF pic.twitter.com/q7rmIFBUoW
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) April 23, 2022
Despite being a man down, City Stars, hosting Sofapaka for the tenth time in the topflight, made forays upfront and should have been level five minutes after conceding only for David Otieno to put his body on the line to stop a Maloba drive in the box.
This is after Nicholas Kipkirui, Rodgers Okuse Okumu and Davis Agesa came on for Calvin Masawa, Timothy Ouma, and skipper Calvin Masawa, in that order. The armband then moved to stopper Kenedy Onyango.
Substitute Okuse had three chances in the box but spurned all as Herit Mungai had a near miss off a freekick in the dying minutes.
Even in defeat, City Stars remained third with 45 points, as Sofapaka improved to the top ten with 33 points.
Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is a home game against Kenya Police in Ruaraka on Sunday 1 May 2022 starting 3 pm.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 8. Calvin Masawa-captain (17. Nicholas Kipkirui-66), 28. Herit Mungai, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 25. Kennedy Onyango, 18. Sven Yidah, 19. Kevin Okumu, 20. Timothy Ouma (7. Rodgers Okumu-66), 30. Anthony Kimani, 32. Ezekiel Odera (11. Davis Agesa-66)
Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 2. Elvis Noor, 5. Michael Madoya, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 29. Augustine Kuta,
Out: 3. Charles Otieno, 4. Salim Abdallah, 6. Ronney Kola, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 12. Edwin Buliba, 14. Rowland Makati, 10. Peter Opiyo, 15. John Kamau, 23. Stephen Njunge, 24. Erick Ombija, 31. Mohammed Bajaber
Coach: Nicholas Muyoti
How we lineup against Sofapaka today!#CityStars #KPL #COYSWN pic.twitter.com/V2XjsKrkke
— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) April 23, 2022
Sofapaka: 30. Frederick Odhiambo, 3. Nixon Omondi, 6. David Nshirimana, 27. Stephen Okola, 8. Said Tsuma (17. Alex Imbusia-46), 19. Roddy Manga (13. Geoffrey Ojunga-46), 20. Titus Achesa (11. Ambrose Sifuna-75), 24. Lawrence Juma-Captain, 40. David Otieno, 66. Sebastine Ikekhai (16. Joe Waithira-46)
Unused subs: 35. Kevin Omondi, 5. Dan Guya, 22. Eric Otieno, 99. S. Masaka
Coach: David Ouma
TEAM NEWS
Here is how we line to face City Stars@betikaKe@OyandoRonny#BatotoBaMungu pic.twitter.com/IeJ5Vmfo6K
— Sofapaka FC (@FC_Sofapaka) April 23, 2022
Caution
Nairobi City Stars: 30. Anthony Kimani (55-red),
Sofapaka: 30. Frederick Odhiambo (73-yellow)
Goals
Sofapaka: 24. Lawence Juma (50-pen), 20. Titus Achesa (60)