Ushuru tame Leopards, City Stars claim first victory
City Stars on Saturday tasted league victory for the first time since the current Kenyan Premier League season started when they beat KCB 3-1 at the Nyayo National Stadium.
In the other match at the same venue, Ushuru FC inflicted a 1-0 defeat on AFC Leopards’ for the latter’s second league loss this term.
Leopards coach Zdravko Logarusic kicked water bottles on the touchline in frustration after the final whistle.
“We had limited options for replacements when Kasaya got injured and although the boys tried, it became difficult to equalize after we fell behind. This is however just the seventh match, and we are focused on our next match,” Logarusic said.
It was a bad day for Leopards whose goalkeeper Wyclef Kasaya suffered a shoulder injury and was forced to relinquish the gloves to youngster Joel Bataro.
Jacob Keli and Karim Ndugwa were Leopards’ liveliest players but all their efforts yielded nothing.
Ugandan striker Allan Kateregga struck the match winner in the 57th minute with an angled left foot shot that left Bataro with no chance.
However, the day belonged to City Stars who finally managed to move off the bottom of the table after seven attempts.
Gambian striker Ebrima Sanneh came off the bench to score two goals for the Kwangware-based side, adding on to Oscar Mbugua’s first half goal. Raymond Murugi accounted for the bankers’ consolation goal.
IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE
City Stars put up an impressive performance and it was evident that they were bound to get the better of their opponents.
Mbugua opened the scores with a glancing header in the 28th minute. With the scores unchanged at half time, City Stars came stronger in the second period with Bruno Sserunkuma and Joseph Sakwa repeatedly testing goalkeeper Sammy Okinda.
Murugi found a chance for KCB 14 minutes after resumption when Samuel Mwangi floated a long ball from the left wing which he swung home to level the scores.
It was however just a temporary reprieve for the bankers. Mark Odhiambo upended second half replacement Sanneh for a penalty which the latter converted for his first goal of the season.
With the bankers making frantic efforts to salvage the situation including pulling out Victor Majid for former Gor Mahia forward Daniel Onyango, the well positioned Sanneh lurched onto an incoming cross from the midfield, controlled it superbly before shooting home to wrap up City Stars’ victory.
City Stars’ elated coach Paul Nkata said he was proud of his charges, and that he hopes his team would build up on that positive result.
“I am very proud of the boys because they played as a team. Winning a match definitely has a good effect on the players, and I hope that we will build up on that,” Nkata said.