An Ezekiel Odera penalty in the 58th minute, earned after Timothy Babu Ouma was bumped off the ball by stopper Dennis Nandwa, was the difference as Nairobi City Stars visited Wazito at Kasarani Annex on Monday 9 May 2022 for a 29th round FKF Premier League clash.
Odera’s goal, the eighth of the season and his 32nd in all competition for City Stars, earned City Stars a record-tying 14th premier league win, matching a rare fete only achieved in the 2005/6 premier league season.
Simba wa Nairobi is now on 49 points up a place to fifth place, as Wazito remained 17th in the 18-team log with 22 points after Monday proceedings.
Inside the first ten minutes of the game, City Stars had a freekick flashed into the box by Herit Mungai that yielded a fruitless corner as Nicholas Kipkirui, in his first start since mid-March, had a header off a Calvin Masawa cross fly wide, and soon after Davies Agesa arrived in the box with speed only to fire wide.
In between Kipkirui and Agesa’s efforts, Wazito’s Curtis Wekesa landed in the City Stars box only to serve a feeble cross that was checked.
Within the next dozen minutes, Wazito had the better chances to grab an opener but a Tyson Otieno shot ended up with keeper Jacob Osano as Wekesa followed that up with an unaccounted freekick from the edge of the box.
As the clock ticked 25 minutes, Odera forced a corner that Mungai fired straight at Wazito keeper Zamu Adisa and moments later, a Timothy Ouma freekick earned after Kipkirui was clipped, flew high and wide.
Past the half-hour mark, it is Wazito that had the best of chances but a glorious opportunity that fell to skipper Ellie Asieche in the 40th minute went wide after the first take had been saved by Osano.
Wazito were to waste two corners as City Stars fired wide a freekick just before the breather.
Inside two minutes of the second half, either side fired freekicks wide and in the 54th minute, City Stars went a goal up after Timothy Ouma nodded home an Odera cross only for the ref to rule it out for offside.
Three minutes later, Babu raced into the box to receive a high ball but was checked to earn a penalty that Odera drove home with his left foot two minutes later for Simba wa Nairobi to go 1-0 up.
The goal spurred Wazito to action and within the next six minutes, they forced three corners from defenders Masawa and Wycliffe Otieno, and keeper Osano who dived the right way to stop a point-blank attempt from Wekesa. All corners were wasted.
In the 70th minute, City Stars coach Nicholas Muyoti added firepower to his flanks by bringing on flyer Rodgers Okuse Okumu for Kipkirui and Augustine Kuta for Agesa as Wazito introduced striker Eric Otieno for defensive-mid Fidel Origa.
Three minutes after the changes, Wazito won a freekick at the edge of the box but Osano dove right to keep out a Rooney Onyango take that was destined for the base of the upright for yet another corner that yielded naught.
Three minutes later stopper Kenedy Vidic Onyango pulled a massive save stopping a Rooney drive on the line as Wazito continued to pile more pressure on Simba wa Nairobi.
In the 81st minute, Wazito threw in their final subs bringing on Azizi Okaka and Ezekiel Otieno for Wekesa and Michael Owino, respectively.
Moments later, City Stars opted to defend their lead by pulling out goal scorer Odera for stopper Salim Situ Abdalla as defensive-mid Charles Otieno came on for creative-mid Elvis Noor Ojiambo.
A corner for Wazito, a long-range shot by fresh Charles Otieno, and a massive Osano save for yet another corner for Wazito, were part of the action in the next few minutes.
Right at the death, a speeding Okuse was brought down by keeper Adisa. The center ref issued out a freekick that Babu fired wide.
The game came to an end with a Wazito freekick that Ronney fired straight to the City Stars wall.
Lineups
Wazito FC: 40. Zamu Adisa, 88 Rooney Onyango, 3. Swaleh Pamba (33. Levian Odhiambo-46), 6. Dennis Nandwa, 50. Brian Musa, 12. Fidel Origa (29. Eric Otieno-70), 21. Amos Asembeka, 17. Tyson Otieno (10. James Kinyanjui-46), 11. Curtis Wekesa (27. Azizi Okaka-81), 16. Ellie Asieche-Captain, 9. Michael Owino (7. Ezekiel Otieno-81)
Unused subs: 14. Bashir Ssekagya, 15. Dennis Shikayi, 23. Hillary Otieno, 19. Elvis Shitambasi, 44. Johnstone Omurwa
Coach: Fred Ambani
Nairobi City Stars: 16. Jacob Osano, 8. Calvin Masawa-captain, 25. Kenedy Onyango, 22. Wycliffe Otieno, 28. Herit Mungai, 18. Sven Yidah, 2. Elvis Noor Ojiambo (3. Charles Otieno-84), 20. Timothy Noor Ouma, 17. Nicholas Kipkirui (7. Rodgers Okumu-70), 11. Davis Agesa (29. Augustine Kuta-70), 32. Ezekiel Odera (4. Salim Abdallah-84)
Unused subs: 1. Elvis Ochoro, 5. Michael Madoya, 12. Edwin Buliba, 26. Dennis Wanjala, 31. Mohammed Bajaber
Out: 6. Ronney Kola, 9. Vincent Otieno Okoth, 10. Peter Opiyo, 14. Rowland Makati, 15. John Kamau, 19. Kevin Okumu, 21. Oliver Maloba, 23. Stephen Njunge, 24. Erick Ombija, 27. Lennox Ogutu, 30. Anthony Kimani,
Coach: Nicholas Muyoti
Cautions (Yellow cards)
Wazito FC: 16. Ellie Asieche (73), 40. Zamu Adisa (90+)
Nairobi City Stars: 32. Ezekiel Odera (78), 20. Timothy Ouma (90+), 25. Kenedy Onyango (90+)
Goal: 32. Ezekiel Odera (58-pen)