Nairobi City Stars have revived their chances of laying hands on the Football Kenya Federation Premier League title after edging out Bandari 2-1 at Ruaraka grounds on Saturday.City Stars who lost 1-0 to the same opponent two weeks ago just needed five minutes inside the opening quarter of the game to seal the three points.Consequently, Simba wa Nairobi moved to eight points within the reach of league leaders Kakamega Homeboyz pending the outcome of their duel against Ulinzi Stars.Before kick off, Bandari head coach Anthony Kimani handed returnees Faraj Ominde and Ndemi Keegan starting berths after a lengthy injury layoffs but the two did little in injecting spark in the midfield that struggled to match that of City Stars. The match swing into life in 15th minute when Timothy Ouma struck a beauty of a freekick just outside the box leaving Michael Wanyika rooted on the ground. Five minutes later, the evergreen Ezekiel Odera leaped closer to the City Stars scoring record in recent years after tapping home the second goal after Davies Agesa had picked him. The early goals gave City Stars the latitude to express themselves as they enjoyed possessions and made inroads to the Bandari area at will although the state of the playing surface proved a challenge. After watching his charges get schooled for the better part of the first half, Kimani made tripple changes before restart where Benjamin Mosha, Umaru Kasumba and Darius Msagha came on for Ndemi, Chris Ochieng and Danson Chetambe. The attack minded trio were meant to poke holes in the City Stars defence but were met with equal force as Simba wa Nairobi continued to boss the proceedings and had more movements into the opponent’s area. Bandari began to gradually eat into City Stars possession in the 55th minute minute when Joseph Otieno paved way for Ugandan midfielde dynamo William Wadri whose combination with Faraj brought stability in the midfield. The dreadlocked midfielder however was tightly marked and denied spaces to comfortably execute his style of play and create chances to the forwards who were starved of supply. Bandari halved the deficit in the 78th minute through Umaru Kasumba who send Jacob Osano the wrong way in the spot after he was brought down in the area by Abdallah Salim. Kasumba who was cutting in from the left wing had summoned his energies to pull the trigger but a late challenge from Abdallah caught his ankle in the full glare of centre referee Yasin Badir who pointed to the spot. The goal was all what Bandari needed to come into life as they raided the City Stars area in a bid to salvage a point. Two minutes after the goal, Mosha was guilty of net kissing the back of the empty net as he rose high to head in cross only for the ball to sway off the target with the goalkeeper.Atariza Meja had floated in a pin point cross that flew over the advancing goalkeeper but Mosha who was isolated on the far post could not direct the ball into the net.City Stars held on the slim advantage up to the final whistle to take home all the three points.Nairobi City Stars XI Jacob Osano, Kevin Okumu, Abdallah Salim, Lennox Ogutu, Atariza Mungai, Sven Yidah, Anthony Kimani, Oliver Maloba, Timothy Ouma, Davies Agesa, Ezekiel Odera. SubstitutesKennedy Onyango, Nicholas Kipkirui, Erick Ombija, Michael Madoya, Edwin Buliba, Calvin Masawa, John KamauBandari XIWanyika Michael, Atariza Meja, Siraj Mohamed, Juma Andrew, Mulumba Felly, Namasaka Chetambe, Otieno Joseph,Faraj Ominde, Chris Ochieng, Mwita Johana, Keegan NdemiSubstitutes Ochuka Joseph , Brian Odera , Odhiambo Benard , Magige Dennis, Mwangemi Boniface , Mosha, Kasumba, Wadri William, Msagha Darius, Abeid Mohamed
