Nairobi City Stars bounced back to winning ways with a 2-1 win over FC Talanta in a pulsating Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) encounter staged at the Kasarani Annex on Saturday.Anthony Kimani and Sven Yidah first half goals were enough for City Stars to claim the win but a late goal from Francis Kahiro with 10 minutes left on the clock set up a tense finale.City Stars assistant head coach John Amboko was impressed with the win over FC Talanta as they utilized the chances unlike their loss against AFC Leopards during the week.”We always focus on the match, when we played AFC we had a different game plan and the good thing about today is that we burried our chances and managed to get the win,” said Amboko.City Stars came into the clash on the back of patchy results after claiming Gor Mahia’s scalp last weekend but lost against AFC Leopards in a mid week fixture that further derailed their title ambitions.FC Talanta are having a memorable first season in the top flight after being the first side to beat Kakamega Homeboyz last time out and have also claimed three points against reigning champions Tusker FC.After a cagey start to the game where both teams struggled to make a meaningful effect on the game, Sven Yidah played a neat through ball to Ezekiel Odera that drew a smart save from Isaiah Wakasala to keep Talanta at bay in the 29th minute.Ken Kenyatta’s side failed to heed the warning signs as City Stars broke the deadlock at the stroke of the half hour mark when Kevin Okumu fed Ezekiel Odera at the second attempt who opted to lay a pass to Anthony Kimani with a forest of bodies ahead of him as the skipper placed the ball in the back of the net.City Stars did not rest on their laurels after taking the lead as they continued to press foot on the gas with Timothy Ouma getting the better of Shela Mandela with his shot canoning off the upright but the referee called for a dubious corner.From the resultant corner that was played shot, Ouma let loose of a thunderbolt that was parried by Wakasala but fell kindly for Sven Yidah who poked it home as City Stars doubled their lead in the 35th minute as Simba wa Nairobi went into the half time break with a 2-0 lead.Talanta did not just have answers to City Stars’ tactical brilliance as Nicholas Muyoti’s side continued to dominate the opening exchanges of the second half and should have doubled the lead when Yidah set up Muki who fired a volley that went straight into the hands of Wakasala.The game was one way traffic for Simba wa Nairobi who were wasting a number of chances with Peter Pinchez Opiyo whipping in a free kick that ricocheted off the woodwork before Talanta cleared their lines.Against the run of play Talanta pulled one back in 80th minute when Alvin Ochieng delivered a cross that was headed towards goal by Brian Yakhama but Osano drew an splendid save but his parry fell to Francis Kahiro who fired the ball into the roof of the net to set up a tense 10-minutw finale.City Stars almost restored their two goal cushion when Rodgers Okumu fired the ball but it hit the woodwork and bounced out as Talanta again cleared the ball to breathe a sigh of relief but could not hold get an equalizer despite Dennis Wanjala clearing the ball off the line in added time from a Kahiro header.City Stars XI: Jacob Osano, Kevin Okumu, Edwin Buliba, Salim Abdalla, Dennis Wanjala, Sven Yidah, Peter Opiyo, Anthony Kimani, John Kamau (Oliver Maloba 76′), Timothy Ouma (Rodgers Okumu 61′), Ezekiel Odera (Eric Ombija 76′).Subs: Steve Njunge, Lennox Ogutu, Calvins Masawa, Mike Madoya, Herrit Mungai, Vincent Otieno.Talanta XI: Isaiah Wakasala, Alvin Ochieng, Evans Malichi (Eric Lusala 41′), Nicodemus Malika, Shela Mandela, Maurice Dukuly (Kevintom Machika 66′), Francis Kahiro, Michael Bodo, Hassan Muhammad (Brian Yakhama 68′), Edwin Lavatsa, Georson Likonoh (Enock Machaka 66′).Subs: James Omusinde, Eugene Ambulwa, Rodgers Mathew.
