NSL: Ushuru switch off Nairobi Stima, City Stars pip Kibera
A brace from Bill Oporia powered Ushuru FC to a convincing 3-1 win over Nairobi Stima, taking their tally in the season to 11 points after eight matches. Elsewhere, despite a strong start to the season, Kibera Black Stars went for the third consecutive game without a win, going down 3-1 to Nairobi City Stars.
The boys from Kibera were left ruing a slow start to the match that saw them go down 2-0 after 13 minutes.
“That is what killed us because we gave away very cheap goals. We managed to settle down late on but again, we couldn’t take our chances. These are lessons we are learning on the way and hopefully we improved,” head coach Geoffrey Oduor said after the match.
Stephen Iganji broke the deadlock for City Stars with a third minute strike before Abdulrahman Mango doubled the tally in the 13th minute. Black Stars pulled one back in the 25th minute through Ronald Ochieng.
In the late kick off, Oporia struck a goal in each half adding on to Benson Amianda’s opener as the taxmen bounced into their third win of the season.
“It was a very tough match and I think we were lucky to win. We took our chances and played well generally. I am hoping we can pick on as the season progresses,” the tactician said.
Stima assistant coach Fred Ambani was disappointed with the performance of the side.
“I just don’t understand what happened today because we had a plan going in but things never just worked for us. It is a disappointing loss because we didn’t play well at all,” the former Kenyan international said.
Amianda broke the deadlock in the 16th minute with a thumping header inside the box off Fan Ngaira corner. But Ushuru should have broken the lead four minutes earlier when Oporia was presented with a chance off an Enock Agwanda cross, but he somehow failed to tap the ball into an empty net.
After going ahead, Ushuru dictated the tempo of the game. They had a chance to double the lead in the 35th minute when Oporia picked up Oscar Mbugua inside the box, but the midfielder skied the effort from six yards out.
But just three minutes to the break, Ushuru were 2-0 up much thanks to a howler from Nairobi Stima keeper Daniel Odhiambo who failed to hold an Agwanda cross and Oporia pounced to head home.
Oporia completed his brace 13 minutes after the restart with a decent finish inside the box after picking up a Patrick Macharia miscued shot to place it calmly beyond the keeper.
Stima had a late consolation with 20 minutes to time when former Tusker forward Stephen Owusu converted from the spot after John Kang’ethe was brought down inside the box by Fredrick Kentile.