AFC Leopards came from behind to force Nairobi City Stars to a 1-1 draw in a 33rd round FKF Premier League game played in Thika Stadium on Monday 6 June 2022.
Leopards’ substitute Josephat Lopaga, on for injured Eugene Mukangula in the 25th minute, bundled home a loose ball in the 73rd minute to cancel out Timothy Noor Ouma’s 38th-minute opener for Simba wa Nairobi.
Ouma hammered in a low shot past Maxwell Mulili in the box for his seventh goal of the season after connecting to a cut back from his sibling Elvis Noor Ojiambo for City Stars to take the lead.
Ouma’s goal atoned for a glorious miss just two minutes earlier when he failed to tap in a perfect layup from skipper Anthony Muki Kimani who burst into the box unmarked.
Within the first ten minutes of the game, City Stars threw away three freekicks as a long-range shot from Elvis ended up with keeper Mulili.
The next ten minutes saw Leopards waste a corner, and a shot on the turn by skipper Eugene Mukangula.
On 27 minutes Mukangula limped off with Lopaga taking his slot as the armband moved to Peter Thiong’o.
Five minutes later, Ouma aka Babu broke into the box to receive a Muki pass but Mulili did well to cut the space and save the danger.
Within the next two minutes, Sven Yidah attempted a shot in the box that flew wide as Babu missed a cutback from Muki.
Matters changed in the 38th minute when Mohammed Omar Bajaber – in his first-ever Premier League start – returned a ball to Elvis who raced into the box to square the ball to his younger sibling Ouma for the lead.
Five minutes later Leopards searched for the leveler but Lopaga’s shot on goal ended up with keeper Osano.
Moments later, Maxwell Otieno had another attempt in the box only for his effort to go wide.
The raids continued and just before the breather, City Stars stopper Edwin Buliba, playing his first game since mid-January 2022, made a goal-saving tackle.
Immediately after the restart, City Stars wasted a corner as Ezekiel Odera’s flick flew wide. Another effort off a Calvin Masawa cross was headed out by Muki.
12 minutes in, Leopards were in the Simba wa Nairobi box only to send the ball wide and the next minute, Elvis, dominant in midfield, fired took a left-foot shot for the top roof but Mulili did well with a fingertip save for a fruitless corner.
Bajaber followed it up with another effort after dispossessing two defenders but his final ball ended up with Mulili.
In the 63rd minute, Bajaber made way for Rowland Makati for his long-awaited Premier League debut. He had a decent shot on goal 14 minutes later but it went wide off goal.
In the 73rd minute, City Stars’ backline failed to clear a ping-pong allowing Lopaga to bundle home the equalizer past Osano who failed to react on time.
No further efforts from either side could top up on the goals leaving the spoils shared at 1-1.
From the result, Simba wa Nairobi moved to 48 points to hang on to the fifth spot, two points, and a position ahead of Leopards.
Next up for City Stars is the season-ender against FC Talanta on Sunday 12 June 2022 at a yet to be confirmed venue.
Lineups
AFC Leopards: 16. Maxwell Mulili, 11. Peter Thiong’o-Captain 2, 22. Collins Shivachi, 28. Zachary Njite, 15. Robert Mudenyu, 23. Lukhumwa, 19. Eugene Mukangula-captain (11,. Josephat Lopaga-27), 8. Brian Wanyama, 25. Lewis Bandi, 29. Maxwell Otieno, 18. Boniface Mukhekhe (18. Eric Mbithi-83)
Unused subs: None
Coach: Tom Juma
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 28. Herit Mungai, 4. Salim Abdala, 12. Edwin Buliba, 8. Calvin Masawa, 18. Sven Yidah, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 31. Mohammed Bajaber (14. Rowland Makati-63), 30. Anthony Kimani-captain, 32. Ezekiel Odera (7. Rodgers Okumu -79)
Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 3. Charles Otieno, 15. John Kamau, 19. Kevin Okumu, 29. Augustine Kuta, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 26. Dennis Wanjala,
Out: 5. Michael Madoya, 6. Ronney Kola, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 10. Peter Opiyo, 11. Davis Agesa, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 21. Oliver Maloba, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 23. Stephen Njunge, 24. Erick Ombija, 27. Lennox Ogutu
Coach: Nicholas Muyoti
Cautions
AFC Leopards: 12. Maxwell Mulili (25), 18. Boniface Mukhekhe (81)
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Edwin Buliba (90+)
Goals
AFC Leopards: 11. Josephat Lopaga (73)
Nairobi City Stars: 20. Timothy Ouma (73)