Nairobi City Stars switch off Western Stima at Ruaraka
Nairobi City Stars' Peter Opiyo (centre) celebrates his goal against Western Stima with teamates during their Football Kenya Federation Premier League match at Ruaraka grounds on June 15, 2021.
What you need to know:
- Ombija levelled with a decent finish on 84 minutes after Kevin Okumu picked him inside the box with a brilliant cross from the right.
- One minute to the end of regular time, City Stars were awarded a penalty after a Stima player was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box and Opiyo made no mistake, sending Stima goalkeeper Stephen Otieno the wrong way.
Nairobi City Stars on Tuesday rallied from behind to beat troubled Western Stima 2-1 in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) match at Ruaraka grounds in Nairobi.
Peter Opiyo struck from the spot at the death for what turned out to be the winner for Simba wa Nairobi.
Erick Ombija had equalised for City Stars on 84 minutes to cancel out Rodgers Ouma's first half lead for relegation-bound Stima.
It was City Stars second win in their last 10 matches against the Kisumu-based side since 2008. Stima have won four times. City Stars are now eighth on 26 points, while Stima remain 15th on 13 points.
The first half was evenly contested with most scoring opportunities coming from free-kicks.
Stima's Baron Oketch made a good delivery from a promising area and Davis Agesa reacted fast to clear the danger in his area.
City Stars' speedy winger Rodgers Okumu wasted a glorious opportunity on the first quarter hour from Bolton Omwenga's free-kick.
Stima had another chance to take the lead from a free-kick on 33 minutes, but Yusuf Juma directed his shot into goalkeeper Steve Njunge's direction.
Six minutes later, Ouma made amends with an easy finish after Oketch, who had outpaced his marker on the left, found him with a short cross.
Western Stima's Rodgers Ouma celebrates his goal against Nairobi City Stars during their Football Kenya Federation Premier League match at Ruaraka grounds on June 15, 2021.
But just when the hosts were preparing to respond, they lost Okumu to an injury and Oliver Maloba took his place. Coach Sanjin Alagic's side should have equalised just before the break, but Peter Opiyo's powerful drive after Omwenga's free-kick was blocked, flew wide narrowly.
Stima almost surendered their lead eight minutes after the restart thanks to a confusion in their area as their defence fumbled to clear Anthony Kimani and Maloba's successive efforts.
City Stars then made a double change, Sven Yidah and Erick Ombija replacing Kimani and Agesa respectively.
Nairobi City Stars midfielder Anthony Kimani (left) vies for the ball with Western Stima defenders Yusuf Juma (right) Vitalis Okumu (down) and Junior Mukisa during their Football Kenya Federation Premier League match at Ruaraka grounds on June 15, 2021.
Ombija levelled with a decent finish on 84 minutes after Kevin Okumu picked him inside the box with a brilliant cross from the right.
One minute to the end of regular time, City Stars were awarded a penalty after a Stima player was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box and Opiyo made no mistake, sending Stima goalkeeper Stephen Otieno the wrong way.
