1-1 is how it ended when Nairobi City Stars hosted Champions Gor Mahia in a round 25 Premier League game at Ruaraka on Saturday 17 July 2021.
A Jules Ulimwengu leveler, off a rebound from a shot by Karim Abdul in the 54th minute cancelled out a goal by right back Kevin Chumsy Okumu in the 22nd when what seemed like a cross beat Gad Mathews.
Inside the first six minutes, Nicholas Kipkirui, a former Gor Mahia employer, had had a attempted shot towards goal that flew high, and City Stars had a wasted corner and freekick outside the box as Simba wa Nairobi looked to set the tone of the game.
On nine minutes, champions Gor responded with a fruitless corner of their own as they slowly began to settle into the game.
Within the next eight minutes, City Stars had two dangerous freekicks; one by Bolton and skipper Anthony Muki Kimani, but failed to nail the target on both occasions.
But as the clock struck 21 minutes towards 22, Elvis Noor Ojiambo, in for absent Sven Yidah, propelled a ball from the mid of the park to a racing Chumsy on the right.
The energetic lad took a few steps forward and sung a cross-look-alike that beat Gor keeper Gad Mathews at the far post.
The goal was a replica of one against Zoo FC in February at Kasarani Annex as he scored on his premiership debut for City Stars.
Five minutes on, Cliffton Miheso fired a freekick into the City Stars box that resulted in an unaccounted corner.
Just about the half hour mark, Kipkirui was brought down by Andrew Juma right outside the box. But a freekick by Peter Pinchez Opiyo was skyward.
An exchange of freekicks by either side then followed as the tempo of the game went a notch hire. While one from dep by Salim Shitu Abdalla for City Stars got no attention after Muki‘s miss, one by Miheso on the other end resulted in a wasted corner.
In the 38th minute, Kipkirui should have doubled matters for City Stars but he miscued a perfect cross from industrious flyer Rodgers Okuse Okumu from the left.
In the final minutes of the first half, Gor should have been level. Jackson Macharia, off the left of goal, floated the ball into the box that Jules Ulimwengu chested down perfectly then fired at goal. An agile Steve Njunge in goal pulled off a massive save to keep it clean as the game soon rolled to the break.
There was activity galore inside the first seven minutes of the second half when Bolton had a long range shot weave wide and a freekick as the base of the near parried back in play by Gad.
One more freekick by Muki was wasted as Gor’s Ernest Wend went into the referees books with a yellow card for a foul on Muki.
In the 55th minute it was all equal after Ulimwengu pounced on a rebound by Njunge who failed to contain a shot by Karim Abdul. It was the end result of a flowing move from the left wing.
In the 58th minute the subs began to crop into the game and it is City Stars that started by bringing on Erick Ombija and bully Davis Agesa for Okuse and Ezekiel Odera, respectively.
A minute after introduction Ombija burst into the box to receive a good pass but he was just caught offside at a time he had a clear view of goal.
Six minutes later Ombija was through on goal after a Kipkirui pass only to handle the ball in the process.
Just about the 7oth minute coach Sanjin opted for more creativity pulling out Elvis and bringing on his sibling Timothy Noor Ouma.
Hs impact was immediate as he forced a second straight corner. And minutes later he had a perfect ball to Kipkirui in the box but he was caught offside.
The next minute saw Ombija fire wide a Chumsy cross as Gor managed the game. The champions were to bring on Lyson Muyonga for Ulimwengu and John Ochieng for Sydney Wahongo in a bid to slow the tempo of the game. Nicholas Omondi later came on for Karim Abdoul.
Tension marked the final minutes of the game with City Stars up with protestations of what they believed were two genuine penalty calls that were waved away.
The game was to end as was; 1-1.
From the draw, and following other Saturday results City Stars drops a place down to seventh spot with 37 points as Gor holds on to fourth with 40 points.
Next up for City Stars is an away trip to Nakuru for a game against Vihiga United on Wednesday 21 July.
Lineups
Nairobi City Stars: 23. Steve Njunge (GK), 26. Bolton Omwenga, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 4. Salim Abdalla, 19. Kevin Okumu, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo (20. Timothy Noor Ouma-70), 10. Peter Opiyo, 30. Anthony Kimani (27. Azizi Okaka-87), 17. Nicholas Kipkirui, 7. Rodgers Okumu (24. Erick Ombija-58) , 32. Ezekiel Odera (11. Davis Agesa-58)
Unused Subs: 16. Jacob Osano (GK), 8. Calvin Masawa, 5. Wesley Onguso, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 3. Charles Otieno
Not considered: 6. Ronney Kola, 14. Rowland Makati (both on loan at Nairobi Stima), 18. Sven Yidah & 21. Oliver Maloba (out on U23 CECAFA duty), 1. Elvis Ochoro (GK), 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 28. Herit Mungai Atariza, 15. John Kamau, 29. Ebrima Sanneh, 12. Edwin Buliba,
Coach: Sanjin Alagic
Gor Mahia: 16. Gad Mathews, 26. Philemon Otieno, 33. Fred Nkata, 12. Andrew Juma, 18 Haron Shakava (Captain), 20. Ernest Wendo, 23. Cliffton Miheso, 21. Sydney Wahongo (30. John Ochieng-85), 25. Jules Ulimwengu (32. Lyson Muyonga-85), 27. Karim Abdoul (14. Nicholas Omondi-89), 11. John Macharia
Unused subs: 1. John Njau, 15. Joachim Ochieng, 28. Victor Ochieng, 19. Samuel Onyango
Coach: Sammy Pamzo Omolo
Yellow cards
Nairobi City Stars: 4. Salim Abdalla (62), 25. Kenedy Onyango (79), 19. Kevin Okumu (88), 20. Timothy Ouma (90)
Gor Mahia: 20. Ernest Wendo (50), 18. Haron Shakava (90+3)
