Simba wa Nairobi hit visiting Bandari FC 2-0 on Friday 11 December 2020 in a third round Premier League game played at Kasarani to bounce back to winning ways.
Goals by skipper Anthony Muki Kimani, off an assist by Jimmy Bageya, and an own goal by the opposite skipper Bernard Odhiambo off a Davis Agesa cross ball, in the 60th and 68th minutes respectively, handed City Stars the vital win a week after going down 1-0 to KCB at the same venue.
Jimmy Bageya, introduced in the 57th minute for teenager Timothy Noor Ouma, teed up Muki with a centre pitch pass to the edge of the box.
With a clear view of goal, Muki timed his shot to finish off past keeper Justin Nikumana for the first of the game.
Six minutes after, Agesa, who started out as a number 9 only to switch to the flank, slinked down the right wind and fired a low cross into the box that Bernard unfortunately bundled home to double the hosts’ advantage.
Though City Stars won on the day, their fourth home win over Bandari in eight encounters in Nairobi, it is Bandari that had the best of chances to go ahead first.
Inside the early minutes of the game, Bandari showed early intent by raiding City Stars backline and earned a series of set pieces but the hosts were sure to clean their lines as they settled into the game.
On 19 minutes however, it is Bandari that could have fallen behind had teenager Timothy Ouma found the far post after after being put through by Oliver Maloba. It whisked just wide.
On 30 minutes William Wadri broke through on goal only for centre referee Josiah Awiti to call for an off side at a time he was about to pull the trigger with only the keeper to beat.
Five minutes later Wadri thought he had earned a penalty after being bundled by City Stars keeper Steve Njunge in the box. A corner was awarded instead and it is Wadri that got to the end of it only to place it inches off the far post.
Seven minutes into the second half, an unmarked Yema Mwana rose highest to power home a freekick form Shaban Kenga on the right only for it to ricochet downwards to bounce back into play off the line.
Two minutes later, a series of passes got the ball in City Stars box only for Mwana to shoot straight at keeper Steve Njunge when it seemed easier to place the ball home.
At the hour mark center back Kenedy Onyango made a massive challenge to disposes Abdallah Hassan resulting in the ball flowing to Jimmy Bageya.
With substitute Ezekiel Odera making a dummy run to confuse Bandari centre backs Bernard Odhiambo and Brian Otieno, Bageya squared the ball to Muki get Simba wa Nairobi 1-0 up.
Seven minutes later Bandari finally scored through substitute Danson Namasaka after firing in from a few yards from goal only for the referee to call it off for an offside.
That decision was vehemently contested by Bandari as the ref consulted his assistant at the corner. In the midst of the protestations, City Stars started the game and a long range pass from Peter Opiyo found a flting Agesa on the right wing.
He swung in low for Odera in the box only for Bandari skipper Bernard Odhiambo to redirect it to his on net for City Stars second.
Bandari had one more glorious chance to find a goal in the 77th minute when substitute Danson Namasaka, on for Yema Mwana in the 64th minute, had his pinch perfect free kick from the edge of the box parried out for an unfruitful corner by keeper Njunge.
City Stars had at least two more chances to get more goals as the game wore on to conclusion, but had to eventually settle for a 2-0 win.
The latest triumph adds on to a similar one during the season opener against Nzoia Sugar in Narok, and moves Simba wa Nairobi from seventh to third in the 18-team log with six points.
Next up for City Stars is an away game to promoted Bidco United on Thursday 18 December 2020 starting 3pm.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 27. Azizi Okaka (12. Edwin Buliba-88), 10. Peter Opiyo – Captain from 74′, 18. Sven Yidah, 20. Timothy Ouma (19. Jimmy Bageya-60), 30. Anthony Kimani – Captain (2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo-74), 21. Oliver Maloba (32. Ezekiel Odera-60), 11. Davis Agesa (9. Vincent Otieno Okoth-88)
Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 7. Rodgers Okumu, 8. Calvin Masawa
Not considered: 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 3. Charles Otieno, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 24. Erick Ombija (injuries), 16. Jacob Osano (sickness), 5. Wesley Onguso, 15. John Kamau, 17. Yusuf Mukisa Lubowa
Coach: Sanjin Alagic
Bandari: 1. Justin Ndikumana, 13. Atariza Amai (28.Hamid Mohammed-80), 5. Siraj Mohammed (11. Darius Msagha-80), 15. Bernard Odhiambo (Captain), 4. Brian Otieno, 22. Collins Agade, 29. Abdallah Hassan,21. Wilberforce Lugogo (39. Johanna Mwita-64), 27. Yema Mwana (17. Danson Namasaka-64), 10. David King’atua (7. Shaban Kenga-36), 24. William Wadri
Unused subs:16. Michael Wanyika, 19. Swaleh Chacha, 8. Dan Guya, 12. Dennis Magige, 6. Alphonse Washe, 20. Benjamin Mosha, 31. Keegan Ndemi,
Coach: Ken Odhiambo
Scores: Nairobi City Stars 2 (Anthony Kimani-60, Bernard Odhiambo-66-OG), Bandari 0
Yellow cards; Bandari – Brian Otieno (8), William Wadri (33), Siraj Mohammed (39), Nairobi City Stars – Kenedy Onyango (45), Azizi Okaka (48),
Match Officials: Dorcas Moraa (MC), Josiah Awiti (Centre Ref), Victor Sittuk (AR 1), Emmanuel Barasa (AR 2), Moses Simiyu (Reserve Ref)
