Posta Rangers hosted Nairobi City Stars at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos with the mailmen looking to extend their lead at the top of the table to 4 points ahead of second-placed Gor Mahia. City Stars came into this one on the backdrop of an impressive 3-1 win over Kariobangi Sharks and needed to get three points that could catapult them to the top half of the log standings.Coach John Kamau set up his Posta Rangers side in a 1-4-2-3-1. John Njau started in goal looking to add another clean sheet to his name. Ojiambo Faustine and Osok Elvis were the fullbacks.Captain Odhiambo Kennedy was partnered with Mwenda Dinken at the heart of the defense with the task of ensuring an 8th clean sheet of the season. In midfield, the impressive Brian Musa Played alongside Wasambo Vincent in the double pivot with Jackson Macharia looking to be the chief creator of the team in the attacking midfield role. Brian Otieno and Caleb Olilo were on the flanks with Felix Oluoch leading the line for the table toppers##NAJAVA_MECA_7734542##Simba Wa Nairobi as coach Nicholas Muyoti’s men are commonly known also set up in a 1-4-3-3. Edwin Mukolwe was in goal looking to keep only the second clean sheet this season for the Nairobi-based club. Cavins Apollo and the ever-present Edwin Buliba were the fullbacks while captain Timothy Muganda and Wycliffe Omondi were the center-back pairing.In midfield, the hardworking Vincent Owino played alongside Elvis Noor just behind Clifford Otieno. With fleet-footed Samuel Kapen, Robinson Asenwa and pacey forward Mohammed Ali formed the trio in the attack.In Possession, Posta Rangers looked to play in a 3-1-3-3 formation with Musa dropping in between the center-backs leaving Wasambo as the lone 6. The fullbacks pushed high to play either side of Macharia and give the team width, while the wingers operated in the half-spaces.FKFPL: Stubborn Nzoia Sugar hold Gor Mahia as Murang’a Seal drop more pointsThese positions were however not fixed as the wingers and fullbacks often interchanged positions to disrupt the City Stars well-structured defense and create spaces to attack. Nairobi City Stars defended in a very tight 4-2-3-1 block ensuring Posta didn’t get any space through the center of the pitch.They were tight with very short distances between them, and they proved difficult to break down. The City Stars wingers were also very hardworking always tracking back to ensure Posta did not have any numerical superiority. In their own defensive third, City Stars went for man-marking leaving no Rangers player unmarked. In the middle third, however, they went zonal focusing on cutting passes into the center and allowing the mailmen freedom to play in the wide zones.What pressure? Kapaito unperturbed by goal drought at TuskerThis tactic proved successful as Posta did not find any joy in the center and were forced to either play wide or force a pass into the City Stars’ block which led to quite several turnovers that the mailmen enjoyed Muyoti’s men on the other hand were more drilled defensively and looked to create chances through transitional moments. They had Ali and Kapen as the outlets using their pace and trickery to keep high up the field and create attacking situations and it was through this tactic that they managed to get the goal.With Posta in possession, City Stars sat in their disciplined midblock, which forced the mailmen to force a pass into the block. This however, did not work as City Stars won the ball and forced a turnover.With the transition created, the ball was played to Kapen who was playing on the right. The fleet-footed winger then drove at his man, holding the ball long enough for other players to make runs ahead of him.These runs dragged away the Posta Rangers defenders leaving space on the inside for Kapen to cut in and hit a drilled shot to the far post, a goal that gave them the three points.In the second half, Coach Kamau brought on Brian Marita and Lewis Shivachi to try and turn things around. Marita brought more directness, driving at defenders and creating chances through trickery and movement and this added some attacking impetus to the mailmen leading to a flurry of chances but none was converted.From football glory to charcoal fires: The unfortunate story of former Harambee Stars defender Patrick NamaiCity Stars goalkeeper Edwin Mukolwe was on form saving every shot whenever he was called upon with their overall defensive unit proving too hard for Posta to break down. In the end, Nairobi City Stars went home with the three points, the first win over Posta Rangers in 13 years, since a 3-1 win back in 2010.
