A late Oliver Maloba strike in the 87th minute is all Nairobi City Stars needed to stun reigning champions Tusker in an undermwhelming Sunday afternoon league match played at the Ruaraka Grounds.Against the run of play, the super substitute emerge from the ruins as he poked a deft ball past Brian Bwire to send his side upto second position on the log following the victory.On the other hand, the Brewers wait for a first win against City Stars since 2016 was made to continue as the club fell a whooping fifteen points behind current log leaders Kakamega Homeboyz.City Stars score. I hate to say this but we need a new TB. And by a new TB I mean everyone goes home on that bench except the TM and Doctor. EVERYONE.— Japheth Mutinda (@JaphMutinda) January 16, 2022 The game got off to a very slow start up until the 10th minute when Tusker’s Ibrahim Joshua apeeared to have gotten lucky not to be sent off after his headbutt on City Stars defender Salim ‘Shitu’ Abdalla went unpunished.That little bit of feisty action sparked the game into a bit of life but only just as the two teams pushed but failed to create any clear cut chances with their high ball style of play.In a rare attacking attempt on the 15th minute, John Njuguna almost stole the lead for Tusker when he chanced upon a shot from outside the area but the former Ulinzi Stars man was left disappointed as his well struck shot cannoned off the upright before being cleared to safety.It is Njuguna who again came close to finding the opener for the Brewers but this time an alert Jacob Osano was well positioned to palm away his goal bound effort.With seven minutes to halftime, City Stars almost grabbed the lead but Dennis Wanjala’s well struck free kick agonizingly hit the crossbar.With that close chance, nothing else would arise as the two teams went into the break with the deadlock yet to be broken. 📸| Action from the opening half at Ruaraka pic.twitter.com/1f2t3yQGM7— 🏆Tusker FC (@tusker_fc) January 16, 2022 Second halfUpon resumption, the reigning champions came out a much better side as they controlled more and more of the proceedings.However, an organized City Stars ensured that the 12 time Kenyan champions were left frustrated as they did not even record a single shot on target up until the 75th minute.Tanzanian striker Ibrahim Joshua had the half’s finest chance from a corner kick but with an open goal in front of him, the bulky foward badly misplaced his header much to the astonishment of the few fans who dotted the grounds.With only three minutes left on the clock, City Stars managed to find the winning goal as a clever one two between Timothy Ouma and Maloba set up the latter,who had just been on the pitch for over ten minutes, through on goal. The pacy winger instinctively poking the ball past Bwire with the only attempt on target in the second half that gave his side all three points.Victory on the road lifts @NrbCityStars to 2nd place on the log with 26 points from 14 matches while champions @tusker_fc remain in the lower half of the table, lying 13th with 16 points from 12 outings📸Tusker FC#FKFPL pic.twitter.com/IQyvQ3kH1Q— FKFcaretaker (@FKFcaretaker) January 16, 2022 Tusker Starting XI: Brian Bwire, Daniel Sakari, Eugene Asike, Christopher Oruchum, Isaac Kipyegon, Humprey Mieno, Rodgers Ouma, Lawrence Luvanda, John Njuguna, Deogratius Ojok, Ibrahim JoshuaSubstitutes: Michael Wanjala, Kevin Momanyi, Charles Momanyi, Clyde Senaji, Pollo Otieno, Wellington Ochieng, Eric Zakayo, Shami Mwinyi, Stewart Omondi.Nairobi City Stars Starting XI: Jacob Osano, Kevin Okumu, Salim Abdalla, Edwin Buliba, Dennis Wanjala, Sven Yidah, Peter Opiyo, Anthony Kimani, John Kamau, Timothy Ouma, Ezekiel OderaSubstitutes: Elvins Ochoro, Calvins Opiyo, Charles Otieno, Lennox Ogutu, Rodgers Okumu, Davies Amuyunzu, Eric Ombija, Oliver Maloba
