It’s an open secret that Nairobi City Stars has never won a National Super League (NSL) game when hosting St. Joseph’s from Nakuru.
That’s the grim awareness as Simba wa Nairobi plots for St. Joseph’s on Sunday 1 December 2019 at Camp Toyoyo starting 3pm EAT in an NSL round 17 tie in the 2019/20 season.
In their last meeting at the same venue on 22 May 2019, St. Joseph’s took all spoils at a time City Stars needed all points to boost their relegation fears.
In that game, City Stars were down 2-0 inside five minutes but quick recovery saw the hosts rally to tie the game 2-2 after a Robert ‘Sero’ Ndungu flick off Noah Abich’s free kick. The dead ball specialist Abich then stepped up to slot home a penalty three minutes later to level matters.
But on 23 minutes a power header by seasoned Daniel Kamau ended the contests as a ten-man St. Joseph’s registered another famous win over hosts City Stars. They played the last 28 minutes a man short after defender William Odunga was sent off for a second bookable offense in the 62nd minute.
Prior to that game, St. Joseph’s had flattened an out of sorts City Stars 4-0 in August 2018 at Camp Toyoyo.
That resounding win added on to a 3-3 stalemate from their first ever trip to face City Stars in May 2017. Overall, St. Joseph’s has beaten City Stars in their last three NSL games to take home all nine points.
Ahead of the fourth home tie against St. Joseph’s on Sunday, City Stars skipper Anthony Muki Kimani reckons the fortunes will change;
“We want to keep our composure in that game and play our game and certainly the results will come our way,”
“I am aware we have never beaten them at home but this time things will be different.” he said confidently
Heading to the game, City Stars tops the 20-team log with 40 points after going unbeaten in the first 16 games into the season. On their part St. Joseph’s is 18th with 11 points.
In their immediate past NSL games, both sides registered identical 3-1 wins; City Stars away to Modern Coast Rangers at Serani in Mombasa, and St. Joseph’s against FC Talanta at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru.
City Stars vs St. Joseph’s head to head records
Sun, 01/12/19, Nairobi City Stars vs St. Joseph
Wed, 22/05/19, Nairobi City Stars 2 – 3 St. Joseph
Sun, 17/02/19, St. Joseph 2 – 1 Nairobi City Stars
Sun, 19/08/18, Nairobi City Stars 0 – 4 St. Joseph
Fri, 30/03/18, St. Joseph 1 – 1 Nairobi City Stars
Sun, 30/07/17, St. Joseph 1 – 1 Nairobi City Stars
Sat, 06/05/17, Nairobi City Stars 3 – 3 St. Joseph