Posta Rangers posted a perfect start to the year by halting their six-game winless run to beat Nairobi City Stars 2-1 at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on Saturday afternoon.Vincent Owino gave City Stars an early lead with the league’s first goal of the year in the fourth minute, only for Lewis Shivachi to equalize for Rangers in the 29th minute.Former City Stars attacker Oliver Maloba then hit a winner for Posta in stoppage time.Both teams came into the match winless in their previous two games, with Rangers even undergoing a managerial change in a bid to improve results.##GEOTARGET_BANNER_8624873##The defeat leaves City Stars sitting 15th on the log with 16 points, while Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the table with 14 points.Rangers kicked off the game with composure, content to keep the ball moving smoothly across their backline, as they tested Posta’s shape. But things did not stay calm for long.In the fourth minute, Rangers’ keeper Kelvin Odongo turned provider—albeit unintentionally.A poor clearance from Odongo gifted the ball straight to Vincent Owino, who wasted no time in charging forward.After wriggling past two defenders, Owino went down under contact from Vincent Wasambo.##NAJAVA_MECA_8624897##The referee did not hesitate—penalty! Owino, showing ice-cold nerves, stepped up and sent Odongo the wrong way, giving Simba wa Nairobi an early lead and bagging the league’s first goal of the season.City Stars nearly doubled their lead three minutes later.Gilbert Abala, set free by a delightful pass from Yuto Kusaba, raced down the right wing.However, Faustine Ojiambo had other ideas, putting in a solid defensive shift to deny Abala, who eventually lost control, sending his effort off target.The Mailmen kept probing, and in the 12th minute, they earned a free kick in a promising position after Stephen Bulugu fouled Maurice Sunga. Postmortem of Harambee Stars horror show compounded by Abud Omar’s shameful red cardCaleb Olilo whipped in a dangerous ball, but Ojiambo’s attempted header sailed over the crossbar.Both coaches then got into a tactical chess match, each trying to assert dominance in midfield. Every loose ball became a battlefield, with neither side willing to back down.In the 26th minute, Posta looked like they might finally crack the City Stars’ defense.Brian Marita, with his head up and vision sharp, threaded a perfectly timed pass to Lewis Shivachi.But Edwin Buliba was alert to the danger, intercepting the pass before Shivachi could capitalize.Three minutes later, Posta’s persistence paid off. After winning a midfield duel, Shami Kibwana picked out Marita on the flank with a clever pass.Shabana’s Hezekiah Omuri hungry for more after grasping coach’s tacticsMarita controlled beautifully, cut inside, and found captain Caleb Olilo lurking at the edge of the box.Olilo’s shot struck Buliba, but Shivachi was quickest to react, nodding in the rebound to level the score at 1-1.The equalizer also marked Shivachi’s fourth goal of the campaign, sparking loud cheers from Posta’s bench.City Stars had a golden chance to retake the lead in the 37th minute.Abala, once again showing off his pace, outpaced Olilo and delivered a dangerous cross into the box.But Rowland Makati’s first touch was poor, and instead of testing the keeper, he sent the ball harmlessly out of play.As the first half wound down, pressure mounted on Posta’s bench.Tusker aim to go clear at the top as FKF PL returnsCoach Omondi, often seen pacing the touchline, looked deep in thought.Perhaps he was already thinking about ways to avoid those dreaded trips to Kwale in case relegation became a looming threat.City Stars were fortunate to finish the half with a full complement of players.Bulugu, who had already been walking a tightrope, was shown only a yellow card after a cynical foul on Shami Kibwana, who was through on goal.##NAJAVA_MECA_8624830##Posta’s bench protested furiously, but referee Hillary Onyango Ochieng stood firm.With the whistle signalling the end of the first stanza, both teams headed for the dressing rooms, no doubt ready for some tactical adjustments.The second half mirrored the first in its opening stages, with neither side willing to take the initiative.However, Posta were the first to make changes, introducing Curtis Wekesa and Amos Asembeka in the 57th minute for Shami Kibwana and Caleb Olilo.City Stars immediately responded by making four substitutions, bringing on Elvis Noor Ojiambo, Kelvin Etemesi, Andrew Kalama, and Robinson Asenwa for Rowland Makati, Clifford Ouma, Gilbert Abala, and Yuto Kusaba. The substitutions injected fresh energy into Nicholas Muyoti’s charges, who began to press Posta Rangers more aggressively in the final third.In the 65th minute, Maurice Sunga received a yellow card after fouling Rodgers Obusu, gifting City Stars a promising free kick. Obusu’s delivery, however, failed to trouble the Rangers defense.In response, Rangers brought on Oliva Maloba for Henry Juma as both teams continued to search for a breakthrough.The substitutions seemed to rejuvenate both sides, as the game became increasingly end-to-end, with attacks coming swiftly from either camp.Vihiga Queens’ longest-serving soldier leaves for IndiaCity Stars came close to taking the lead in the 75th minute when Andrew Kalama slipped a perfectly timed pass to Kelvin Etemesi. Etemesi’s first-time effort had the keeper beaten but narrowly missed the target, going inches wide of the post.With ten minutes remaining, City Stars made their final change, substituting their goal scorer Owino for Dennis Oalo. Despite both sides’ late attempts to snatch a winner, Rangers stood firm to snatch all three points.##NAJAVA_MECA_8624838##Felix Olouch running from the left flank swung in a ball to the box that confused the City defenders leaving Maloba with a chance to shoot into the empty net for the winner.There was relief for Rangers players at the sound of the final whistle as they ended a six-match winless run.
