Nicholas Kipkirui is proving to be quite a signing for Nairobi City Stars. The ex Zoo and Gor Mahia forward once again bailed John Amboko’s Stars after finding the back of the net in stoppage time to earn his side a 2-2 draw with Posta Rangers at the Ruaraka grounds. Rangers were headed for their eighth win of the season but Kipkirui forced a loose ball past Kelvin Opiyo to inspire the league returnees to their ninth draw of the season. City Stars goalkeeper Stephen Njung’e was called into action in the first minute of the game, stretching his arms to save a long shot from Bernard Ondiek who tried to wittingly beat him.Kipkirui replied to the early scare after cutting from the right edge but his low drive was not strong enough to beat Kelvin Opiyo.Ezekiel Odera’s experience was there for all to see in the 12th minute as the former Gor Mahia man expertly lobbed the ball past an on rushing Opiyo to give City Stars the lead.Bolton Omwenga nearly doubled City Stars advantage in the 20th minute, striking a superb freekick but a fully stretching Opiyo palmed it for a unsuccessful corner.What was supposed to be an easy clearance by City Stars centre back Kennedy Onyango landed on the path of Eliud Lokuwam who plundered home the equalizer in the 23rd minute.City Stars technical bench breathed a huge sigh of relief after Joseph Mbugi’s effort narrowly missed the target with Njung’e well beaten. The experienced midfielder volleyed from distance hoping to beat Njung’e who was off the line but the ball flew off the bar much to the relief of City Stars.The league returnees took control of the proceedings and would have doubled their advantage in the 34th minute through Omwenga but Opiyo was equal tothe long range effort.Timothy Ouma was also guilty of not notching in the second goal for Simba Wa Nairobi towards the tail end of the first half after Kipkirui had squared the ball to him.Joshua Nyatini threw Rangers ahead in the 47th minute through a sumptuous freekick right from the edge of the box after Lokuwam was brought down.The former national U20 midfielder stepped up to fly the ball over the wall which eventually beat Njung’e who landed arkwadly, forcing the medics to intervene.City Stars made a double change in the 60th minute where veterans Odera and Anthony ‘Muki’ Kimani paved way for Eric Ombija and Elvis Noor respectively.Okumbi made his first change in the 71st minute hauling off Lokuwam for national U23 forward Josephat Lopaga while Amboko introduced John Kamau for the injured Davis Agesa three minutes later.Ombija thought he had drawn City Stars level in the 84th minute after firing a loose ball to the top corner but centre referee Hosea Omondi gave a foul for the goalkeeper who was hacked down while trying to save an initial aerial ball.However Kipkirui would not be denied in the 89th minute where he scythed the ball past the line after the defence failed to clear.
