Wazito ended Nairobi City Stars fine five-game winning streak with a 1-0 win at Ruaraka on Wednesday 30 June 2021 during a Premier league matchday 23 tie.
A lone strike by Musa Masika at the hour mark is what separated the two teams for Wazito to complete a double over Simba wa Narobi. They won the first leg 2-1 at Utalii in early January.
Wazito forced the first set-piece of the game in the seventh minute, a corner, but nothing much came out of it.
The next minute, a good flow by City Stars saw pocket rocket Rodgers Okuse Okumu break into the Wazito box only to be caught offside.
Okuse’s speed led to the bookings of Wazito’s Vincent Oburu and right back Ronney Onyango on either half.
In the eleventh minute, Musa Masika fired a freekick from the edge of the box straight to his former keeper Steve Njunge City Stars goal.
A minute after the hour mark, Wazito forced a second corner. As was the case with the first, it was wasted.
Inside five minutes after the half-hour mark City Stars had three half chances; a Sven Yidah’s belter – off a Nicholas Kipkirui knockdown – went just wide, a Bolton Omwenga freekick went straight to the keeper Frederick, then skipper Anthony Muki Kimani failed to pick out Davis Agesa in the box.
As the first half wore on, it is Wazito that looked most dangerous as Wyvonne Isuza, coming from deep, ran unchecked into the box, only for Njunge in City Star’s goal to force a fruitless corner.
The next minute Elli Asiche attempted a drive on goal. It flew wide.
?| Half Time
Nothing to separate the two sides yet in what has been a very dull affair.#CityStarsVsWazito#BKPL pic.twitter.com/WIUGGqkXfC
— Betking Kenya Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) June 30, 2021
Six minutes into the second half, City Stars wasted a corner and freekick.
The action then moved to the other end when, in the 55th minute, Masika’s low drive ended straight at Njunge.
At the hour mark City Stars striker Davis Agesa could have open the scores only to miss placing a Muki freekick.
And three minutes later it was Wazito 1-0 up when Masika met a pass across the top of the box to place the ball on his left foot before firing past Njunge.
The goal brought in immediate changes as Wazito introduced Eric Otieno for Oburu, and City Stars coach Sanjin Alagic responded by bringing on Oliver Maloba for Okuse.
At the 70th minute, Kipkirui just failed to trigger the ball home from a Maloba cross and moments later a Muki attempt on goal, from just yards out, off a Kipkirui bicycle kick, earned a corner instead of a leveler.
With 13 minutes left, Wazito opted to defend their solo goal with a triple sub that saw the arrival of Fidel Origa, Dennis Sikhayi, and Kevin Kimani in places of Brian Musa, Rooney Onyango, and Eli Asieche, in that order.
For City Stars, Ezekiel Odera came on for Kipkirui, as Calvin Masawa took up the place of Edwin Buliba at right back.
Into the last ten minutes, City Stars had near misses that could have changed the game but an Agesa attempt and Muki freekick, all in the box, failed to cross the line.
Even an extra two strikers in the dying minutes; Erick Ombija and Ebrima Sanneh for Sven and Agesa, could not change the course of the game.
But as City Stars chased the game, one move by Wazito could have ended the game at 2-0, but luckily a Masika drive ricochetted off the woodwork.
From the loss, City Stars, on 32 points, dropped to seventh following other Wednesday results, as Wazito moved up two places to eighth with 30 points.
?| Matchday 23 ✅
This is how the standings look like #BKPL pic.twitter.com/2Iii23Rwik
— Betking Kenya Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) June 30, 2021
✅| All Matchday Results#BKPL pic.twitter.com/SF3e39vMjf
— Betking Kenya Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) June 30, 2021
Next up for City Stars is a Mombasa game against Bandari at Mbaraki on Sunday 4 July 2021 starting 3 pm.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 26. Bolton Omwenga, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 12. Edwin Buliba (8. Calvin Masawa-77), 18. Sven Yidah (24. Erick Ombija-83), 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Anthony Kimani , 7. Rodgers Okumu (21. Oliver Maloba-67), 11. Davis Agesa (29. Ebrima Sanneh-83), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (32. Ezekiel Odera-77)
Unused Subs: 16. Jacob Osano (GK), 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo, 22. Wycliffe Otieno
Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 3. Charles Otieno, 5. Wesley Onguso, 27. Azizi Okaka, 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 15. John Kamau, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 19. Kevin Okumu (could not play against parent club Wazito)
Coach: Sanjin Alagic
Wazito: 1, Frederick Odhiambo, 33. Joseph Odhiambo, 24. Maurice Ojuang, 44. Jonstone Omurwa, 88. Ronney Onyango (15. Dennis Shikayi-77), 50. Brian Musa (12. Fidel Origa-77), 11. Wyvonne Isuza, 16. Eli Asieche (36. Kevin Kimani-77), 7.Vincent Oburu (29. Eric Otieno-64), 25. Musa Masika, 9. Michael Owino (2. David Otieno-88)
Unused subs: 77. Bixente Otieno (GK), 39. John Odhiambo, Roland Ashimoto, 10. Boniface Omondi,
Coach: Francis Kimanzi
Yellow cards
City Stars: 18. Sven Yidah (58)
Wazito: 7. Vincent Oburu (15), 88. Ronney Onyango (55)
Nairobi City Stars vs Wazito in a Premier League round 23 game on Wed 30 June 2021 at Ruaraka. Wazito won it 1-0
Nairobi City Stars vs Wazito in a Premier League round 23 game on Wed 30 June 2021 at Ruaraka. Wazito won it 1-0