Kenya: ‘Simba Wa Nairobi’ cage again as Tusker extends unbeaten run
Nairobi — Nairobi City Stars’ choppy start to the season continued after they surrendered a one-goal half-time lead to lose 2-1 to Talanta FC in an FKF Premier League match at the Ruaraka Complex in Nairobi.
Two goals in five minutes from Gerson Likono and Castro Ogendo in the 62nd and 67th minutes were enough to limit Simba in Nairobi to their third straight defeat after the previous two defeats against Bidco United and Tusker FC.
Coach Nicholas Muyoti’s charges started the game on a high, taking the lead in the second minute thanks to a well-converted penalty by veteran Peter ‘Pinchez’ Opiyo.
The Kawangware-based side continued to press their visitors for a second goal, although Dennis Wanjala had to make way for Herit Mungai in the 25th minute following an injury.
However, the tide turned in the second half as Talanta returned a renewed team, ready to pounce on the hosts’ defensive vulnerabilities.
A seemingly innocuous cross from Likono in the 62nd minute bounced off the hands of Elvis Ochoro in the City Stars goal to level matters for Talanta.
The hosts’ worst fear came in the 67th minute when Ogendo was on hand to add a second for the visitors.
City Stars pulled out all their arsenal in an attempt to get back into the game – Muyoti replaced Opiyo with Clifford Otieno in the 79th minute – but to no avail.
In another match of the day, defending champions Tusker FC continued their brilliant start to the season with a narrow 1-0 win against fellow title contenders, AFC Leopards, at the Moi Stadium, Kasarani.
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Eric Mmata was on hand to convert a penalty in the 67th minute in the evenly played match where both teams had chances to win the game.
Former Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi had to be hawk-eyed against his former employers, reacting brilliantly to keep out a long-range effort from Brian Wanyama.
Ingwe goalkeeper Levis Opiyo had also – in the first half – denied Lawrence Luvanda a clear scoring opportunity after the latter connected beautifully with a cross from the left.
Mmata was one of four inspired substitutions made by Matano – the others including David Majak, Shami Kibwana and Jackson Macharia – to try and get a hold of the game.
It proved to be a masterstroke as Mmata was hacked down as he drove into the box and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot.
With 10 minutes remaining in normal time, Ingwe had a golden chance to equalize when they were awarded a penalty, but Ojo Olaniyi’s resulting kick flew over the crossbar. Elsewhere, at the Mbaraki Stadium in Mombasa, Kenya Commercial Bank recovered from the weekend’s 1-0 loss to Kakamega Homeboyz to defeat Bandari FC 1-0.
John Mwangi’s calm shot past Michael Wanyika in the goalkeeper’s goal in the first half was all it took to separate the two sides.
The Bankers then bravely held on to all three points.
