Nairobi City Stars pulled a massive upset to return back to winning ways by ending Tusker’s eight game unbeaten run following a 1-0 win in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) clash on Friday.Former AFC Leopards forward Ezekiel Odera bagged the all important goal in the second half as Tusker dropped three vital points in the title race, failing to capitalize on KCB’s loss to Posta Rangers earlier on in the day.Following a run of three games without a win and reeling from the exit of head coach Sanjin Alagic, City Stars started the game like a house on fire catching Tusker flat footed with Davis Agesa and Nicholas Kipkirui squandering chances in the opening three minutes.Agesa however missed a guilt edge chance in the fifth minute when he only had the goalkeeper to beat after Kipkirui played a neat pass across the face of goal as his effy sailed just wide off the mark much to the relief of Emery Mvuyekure in goal.Tusker survived another care three minutes later then Timothy Ouma got the better of Sammy Meja to set up Kipkirui but the former Gor Mahia forward’s tap in was dealt with by the Rwandan shot stopper.With KCB dropping crucial points following the 2-0 loss to stuttering Posta Rangers, Tusker seemed to play under immense pressure as they hurried their passes, failing to create any meaningful chances in the game with head coach Robert Matano belting out instructions from the touch line to spur his charges.The best chance of the half fell to City Stars but Simba wa Nairobi could not just find their scoring boots as Kipkirui saw his shot go wide in the 33rd minute after Ouma again set him up with the Tusker defense looking jittery.The Brewers however came close five minutes before the half when Rodgers Aloro whipped in a ferocious freekick that was spilled by Steve Njunge with the ball being pingponged in the six yard area before City Stars finally cleared their lines.Matano had some strong word for his charges at half time evidenced from the strong start it it was City Stars that found the deadlock when Eric Ambunya’s header back to Emery was short presenting Ezekiel Odera with a chance to slot the ball past the on rushing keeper.Matano responded by a quadruple substitution bringing on Luke Amanda, Kevin Okoth, Hillary Wandera and Eric Zakayo for Chrispinus Onyango, Sammy Meja, Jackson Macharia and Brian Marita.Tusker exhausted their substitutions eight minutes later when Matano withdrew Apollo Otieno for Faraj Ominde.The changes almost worked their magic when Kevin Okoth found Chris Ochieng inside the box but the former Mathare United forward went for power instead of placing the ball as his effort canoned off the woodwork in the 71st minute.In the final 15 minutes of the game it was attack versus defense as Tusker mounted wave after wave of attack but just could not find the cutting edge to curve open City Stars defense.Simba wa Nairobi stood tall to hold on to the three points as Tusker still maintain a point advantage over KCB on the log.
