Nairobi City Stars went down 1-0 to visiting KCB in an FKF Premier League clash played in Ruaraka on the evening of Friday 17 December 2021.
A freekick by David Ambulu, earned after he was fouled by stopper Lennox Ogutu outside the box, was turned home by a City Stars player with two minutes left in regulation time.
The late goal, the decider, earned sent KCB top of the log with 21 points as City Stars remained fourth on 17 points.
City Stars, missing up to six team regulars – Salim Shitu Abdalla, Kenedy Vidic Onyango, Peter Pinchez Opiyo, Kevin Chumsy Okumu, Nicholas Kipkirui, as well as super-sub Erick Ombija due to varied ailments – were on the back foot in the early parts of the game as KCB went in search of early goals.
In the sixth minute, City Stars ventured into the KCB box and one of their old boys – Ezekiel Odera – miscued the ball wide. It landed on Oliver Maloba to the left. He swung the ball back to him but rather than head goalward, Odera chose to chest the ball straight at KCB keeper Gabriel Andika.
Minutes later KCB had a freekick but a searching ball to skipper Baraka Badi flew out. City Stars had a similar dead-ball the minute after only for Anthony Muki Kimani to sky the ball.
KCB had one of the best chances for goals in the 20th minute, but winger James Mazembe, who had a field day on the left-wing, sent the ball out of a cross by Badi.
There was a four-minute stoppage in the game in the 26th minute when, while going for an aerial ball of a corner, Odera and KCB’s Dennis Odhiambo bumped their heads and had to be checked by the medics.
While Odhiambo got a heavy bandage on his head, Odera would later exit the game four minutes into the second half – his place taken up by speedster Rodgers Okuse Okumu – and had to seek professional treatment after the game.
In the last quarter of the first half, City Stars got into the game and forced at least two freekicks and a corner. All were fruitless.
The action in the first part of the game came to an end with a Robinson Kamura freekick at the edge of the box that was earned when Simba wa Nairobi stopper Edwin Buliba clipped a KCB player with a ball clearance. It flew just above bar.
In the second half, Buliba started it off with a freekick heading straight to Andika. KCB would retaliate with a header by Derreck Otanga that went straight to City Stars keeper Jacob Osano.
Odera’s last action was a break into the KCB box to meet a Sven Yidah put-through. He scored with a left-footer only to be ruled offside.
Nine minutes after the restart, Davis Agesa won a free kick on the right-wing. Left-back Dennis Decha Wanjala whipped it into the box but it, shockingly, received no connection and bounced just in front of goal and out of play.
The very next minute, Osano in City Stars goal had to be his best to punch out a thunderous shot from Henry Onyango.
The interchanges would continue as the game wore down. With a quarter of an hour left, KCB coach Zedekiah Zico Otieno throw in Ambulu for a tiring Mazembe. That turned out to be the difference as, with the clock reflecting 87 minutes, he drew Lennox off the box and was hacked down to the left of the goal.
He dusted himself up to send the awarded dead ball goalward to force City Stars into bundling the ball home for KCB to bank all spoils and hit the summit of the league.
After KCB, up next for City Stars is an away game to record champions Gor Mahia in Kasarani on 30 December starting 3 pm.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 8. Calvin Masawa-Captain, 12. Edwin Buliba, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 18. Sven Yidah 11. Davis Agesa (2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-68), 30. Anthony Kimani, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 32. Ezekiel Odera (7. Rodgers Okumu-49), 21. Oliver Maloba (15. John Kamau-80)
Unused subs: 23. Stephen Njunge (GK), 28. Herit Mungai, 3. Charles Otieno, 5. Michael Madoya, 14. Rowland Makati, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth,
Out: 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 6. Ronney Kola (all injured), 24. Erick Ombija, 4. Salim Abdalla, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 10. Peter Opiyo, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 19. Kevin Okumu (all sick), 1. Elvis Ochoro, 29. Ebrima Sanneh
Coach: Nicholas Muyoti
KCB: 22. Gabriel Andika, 8. Dennis Odhiambo, 5. Nahashon Nanyendo, 13. Robinson Kamura, 23. Baraka Badi – captain, 4. Michael Mutinda, 19. Brian Ochieng, 28. Michael Oduor (10. Samuel Mwangi-64), 20. Henry Onyango (9. Reagan Otieno – 75), 21. James Mazembe (26. David Owino Ambulu-75), 11. Derreck Otanga (24. David Simiyu-64)
Unused subs: 1. David Okello (GK) 2. Rama Mwenda, 7. Simon Munala, 30. Curtis Wekesa, 27. Harun Thomas, 29. Kilume Mohammed,
Coach: Zedekiah Otieno
Yellow cards
City Stars: 12. Edwin Buliba (43)
KCB: None
Goals: 26. David Ambulu – KCB (88)
