A debut goal by Lennox Ogutu, the sixth of the season from Ezekiel Omulo Odera, and Nicholas Kipkirui’s second season goal, all in the second half, handed Nairobi City Stars a 3-0 win over Mathare United in Thika on Saturday 26 February 2022 during an FKF Premier League match 19.
Timothy Noor Ouma aka Babu provided assists for the first two goals by Lennox and Odera in the 50th and 64th minutes, before debutant Augustine Kuta, a sub for injured Elvis Noor Ojiambo, announced his entry to the Simba wa Nairobi grassland with a through ball that Kipkirui lobbed past the keeper to settle the scores in the 84th minute to complete a season double following up on a 2-0 first-leg win.
Mathare United’s high line defending during the first part of the game left City Stars a disjointed lot in the final third.
But five minutes into the second half, Babu squared a corner kick with perfection to find Lennox who, unmarked within the six-yard area, powered home a firm header against his former side for his debut Simba wa Nairobi goal.
14 minutes later it was 2-0 when a ball from deep from left-back Dennis Wanjala found Babu on the left. He then teed up an advancing Odera with good delivery and the marksman was not to be denied from close range.
The third goal came off Kuta whose sure pass found Kipkirui in space. He advanced towards the goal to loop the keeper for the final goal of the day.
Inside the first ten minutes, a high-pressing City Stars had tested Mathare with a backheel from Odera that Bryne Omondi picked at the near post and a shot from Babu that went wide.
For a better part of the game after that, City Stars were forced to switch balls to the left win to John Kamau whose crosses to the box became easy picks for Bryne.
With seventeen minutes to the breather, Mathare lost skipped Alphonse Ndonye to an injury. His place was taken up by Dennis Monda Obanda as the armband shifted to Clifford Alwanga.
Two minutes after that change, Mathare had a freekick from good range. Tony Odhiambo drove it to the box only for Victor Odhiambo to head it out
In the 39th minute, Victor took home a yellow after a foul on Babu. Three awarded freekick led to a corner that Wanjala whipped into the box only for Lennox to head out at the near post.
A minute later Lennox sent a freekick from mid-pitch but it missed a connection in the box as Mathare cleared their lines.
Two minutes later, Elvis Noor Ojiambo, starting his first game this season, connected to a Kamau cross with a fine header that went just wide.
The game rolled to halftime with Mathare skipper going to the refs books for a yellow following a protestation.
he game at Thika Stadium, the first between the two since April 2005, was even at 0-0 at halftime.
Five minutes into the second half Kamau floated a dangerous corner that earned another on the other end. Babu brought it up well for unmarked Lennox to punish his former employers with a fine header.
Two minutes later Wanjala forced a corner that Babu served his sibling Elvis who then squared to skipper Anthony Muki Kimani outside the box. He fired high up.
The next moment saw Mathare’s Eugene Wethuli connect to a lost ball outside the City Stars box with a good shot but it flew wide.
Not too long after a freekick by right-back Kenedy Ochieng landed in the box only for his opposite number Calvin Masawa to clear it out.
Improved tempo from Mathare yielded a corner but it ended up with Steve Njunge who started for Simba wa Nairobi in goal after sitting out the last 17 games.
Less than two minutes later it was 2-0 for City Stars after Odera tapped home a cross from Babu from close range.
The goal was his 30th in City Stars colors that sees him come to within one of legend Arthur Museve. It was also had a separate significance as City Stars became the first team to hit the 30-goal mark this season.
A short while later, Mathare had the chance to half the scores when they earned a free-kick at the edge of the box. Daniel Van Persie Otieno however had his take ricocheted off the City Stars wall and back into play.
The next minute City Stars made changes bringing on Davis Agesa for Kamau and Nicholas Kipkirui for Odera.
Not too long after, Oliver Maloba replaced skipper Muki who handed over the armband to Masawa.
In between the changes, Wethuli had a long-range freekick headed for under the bar but Njunge did well to force a fingertip save for a fruitless corner.
In the 75th minute, Bryne in Mathare goal came out tops when he stopped back-to-back blockbusters by Elvis and Peter Opiyo from outside the box.
Within the next two minutes, substitute Agesa burst into the box twice but on both occasions had the ball end up at Bryne.
In between his goal attempts Matahre brought in Khalid Jumaan for Wethuli and Donald Ange for Van Persie.
City Stars responded two minutes, in the 81st minute, by taking out an injured Elvis to hand Augustine Kuta his debut.
It took Kuta just two minutes to settle as he squared a fine ball from midfield to Kipkirui in space who raced to the box to lob Bryne with the third goal of the day.
City Stars went in search of more but attempts by Agesa, Kuta, and Kipkirui in the dying minutes did not yield anymore.
With the win, Nairobi City Stars returns to the second spot with 35 points, to reduce the gap on log leaders Kakamega Homeboyz to two points. Mathare on their part remains 17th with ten points.
Next up for City Stars is an away game at the Thika Stadium to Bidco United on Saturday 5 March 2022 starting 3 pm.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 23. Stephen Njunge, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 8. Calvin Masawa, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo (29. Augustine Kuta-81), 10. Peter Opiyo, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 15. John Kamau (11. Davis Agesa-68), 30. Anthony Kimani (21. Oliver Maloba-73), 32. Ezekiel Odera (17. Nicholas Kipkirui-68)
Unused subs: 16. Jacob Osano, 4. Salim Abdallah, 28. Herit Mungai, 19. Kevin Okumu, 3. Charles Otieno
Coach: Nicholas Muyoti
Out: 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 6. Ronney Kola, 24. Erick Ombija, 5. Michael Madoya, 14. Rowland Makati, 1. Elvis Ochoro, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 7. Rodgers Okumu, 18. Sven Yidah, 12. Edwin Buliba, 31. Mohammed Bajaber
Mathare United: 1. Byrne Omondi (GK), 18. Kennedy Ochieng, 23. Victor Odhiambo, 4. Harun Junior, 24. Tony Odhiambo, 14. Meshack Muyonga, 8. Alphonse Ndonye-captain (12. Dennis Monda Obanda-28), 27. Daniel Otieno (11. Donald Ange-79), 21. Clifford Alwanga-Captain 2, 9. Douglas Kibet Koech, 28. Eugene Wethuli (6. Martin Nderitu-79)
Subs: 16. Tom Kangeta (GK), 5. Austin Ochieng, 26. Said Musa, 10. Khalid Jumaan, 29. Chris Oduor, 13. Francis Kamau
Coach: John Kamau
Yellow cards
Nairobi City Stars: 20. Timothy Ouma (16), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (90)
Mathare United: 14. Meshack Muyonga (16), 8. Alphonse Ndonye (22), 23. Victor Odhiambo (39), Clifford Alwanga (43)
Goals: 27. Lennox Ogutu (50), 32. Ezekiel Odera (64), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (84)
Ezekiel Odera celebrates a goal against Mathare United at Thika Stadium on Sat 26 Feb 2022. He scored the second goal, his sixth of the season. City Stars went on to win 3-0
City Stars vs Mathare United on Sat 26 Feb in Thika Sstadium. City Stars won the game 3-0
Right-back Calvin Masawa in action against Mathare United on Sat 26 Feb 2022 at Thika Stadium. City Stars won 3-0
Muki in action against Mathare United on Sat 26 Feb 2022 at the Thika Stadium. City Stars won 3-0
