Ulinzi Stars ended their seven-game winless run on Sunday 22 December following a gritty but controversial 2-1 victory over Nairobi City Stars at Dandora Stadium.After going a goal down in the half-hour mark, Dunstan Nyaudo’s side executed a strong comeback, first equalizing through Amatton Samunya, before grabbing a second-half winner from Brian Kafero.Ulinzi Stars 2-1 Nairobi City Stars (Amatton Samunya, Brian Kafero/Kelvin Etemesi)📸 Peter Mwangi #KPL2024 pic.twitter.com/Aj0LcGGna5— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) December 22, 2024 City Stars, who went into the lead via Kelvin Etemesi, nearly found a late equalizer, only for the impressive Sylvaine Ricks to pull off an incredible save from Robinson Asenwa’s acrobatic effort.But in a heated moment in the second period, the City Stars bench was left aggrieved after a goal by substitute Dennis Oalo in the 70th minute was controversially chalked off for offside, sparking wild emotions on the sidelines.##NAJAVA_MECA_8586606##“On any other day it could have been 2-2 but that’s our reality,” City Stars Nicholas Muyoti said after the game.And while City Stars reel from a third straight game without a win, Ulinzi Stars, massively aided by their skipper Boniface Muchiri, delight in the fact that their year ends on a winning note, and that they are off the relegation places.Match ReportUlinzi Stars should have taken the lead in the first 15 minutes but for Hillary Simiyu to scuff a shot from point-blank range.City Stars, seemingly under the cosh, then took a surprise lead when Etemesi stood in the way of a James Ssemambo shot from the left, instead deflecting the effort past Ricks and into the bottom corner.It didn’t take long for the Soldiers to find a way back, as Muchiri’s freekick a minute to halftime was superbly saved by Elvis Ochoro, only for a lurking Samunya to head in the rebound albeit injuring himself in the process.AFC Leopards captain Clifton Miheso on how Kenyan football can developThe second period saw Ulinzi make changes in attack as Leshan Mootian, Enosh Ochieng and Issa Emuria came on.The desire by Nyaudo paid off almost immediately when a brilliant combination upfront left Issa Lumumba with time and space for a curler, only for Ochoro to claw it out.Muchiri then came close with another freekick, but Ochoro stood firm, forcing a corner.It was the resulting corner that led to the second goal as Muchiri whipped in a ball that met Kafero on the near post, his glancing header catching off Ochoro and into the net.Mariga-led task force begins search for next Harambee Stars coachThe Ulinzi gamble had paid off, and despite Muyoti bringing on Brian Mzee, Oalo and Andre Kalama, there was no way past Ricks.City Stars will in hindsight look at it differently, with Nyaudo smiling all way home.##NAJAVA_MECA_8586599##Elsewhere in Machakos, Murang’a Seal made it three wins on the bounce without a goal conceded after seeing off ten-man Talanta 1-0.The only goal of the game came via Nixon Omondi in the 71st minute, sending Seal to seventh place on the log as Talanta drop to the relegation playoff places.
