Ezekiel Odera’s nonchalant tap in was enough to earn Nairobi City Stars three points in the 1-0 over Kariobangi Sharks in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) staged at the Kasarani Stadium on Saturday.Sharks head coach William Muluya termed the loss as a blow as they failed to utilize their chances in the first half a situation which led to them missing out on three points.”What went for us wrong was conceding, we did not capitalize on our first half chances then we were punished. It’s a painful loss because I’d say we were on top of the game,” said Muluya.His counterpart Nicholas Muyoti commended his playing staff for bagging the win and also noted the turning point of the game was the subs at the start of the second half.”It was a very important game for us to win and it was it was not easy but my boys were resilient in the game, we struggled in the first half but we made changes in the second half that won the game,” said Muyoti.Sharks were brimming with confidence if their last result (3-0 win over Homeboyz) was anything to go by but lost vital cogs in their wheel following the departure of Geoffrey Shiveka, Eric Juma and Sydney Lokale.City Stars on the other hand were bullish despite getting only two points in their last two games but the points were hard earned after coming from behind to salvage a draw on both occasions.The encounter was off to a lively start with both teams having a real go at each other with Julius Masaba dribbling and weaving through the City Stars defense but his finish let him down as it whistled past the post in the eighth minute.City Stars responded when Davis Agesa who looked to have been chaffed after his goal against Homeboyz lifted an inch perfect cross to Mike Madoya whose header cannoned off the post with Sharks clearing their lines later.Sharks could have easily gone into the half time break with a 3-0 lead if Masaba and Henry Juma had taken their chances both from close range with only the keeper to beat.City Stars came close to breaking the deadock in second minute of first half added minutes when Dennis Wanjala whipped in an inch perfect corner that was flicked on by Davis Agesa but Salim Abdalla just arrived late to apply the finishing touch as both teams went into the break locked in a barren draw.Unimpressed by his side’s first half display, Nicholas Muyoti went for a double sub as he introduced the Noor brother for Mike Madoya and Peter Opiyo.City Stars upped the ante in closing stanza as they came agonizingly close two minutes after the hour mark when Davis Agesa whipped in a cross that was headed towards goal by Ezekiel Odera but it shaved the cross bar on it’s way out.Sharks failed to heed the alarm bells as they went behind a minute later when Maloba made foray into the Sharks box and laid the ball on a plate for Ezekiel Odera to tap into the open next.City Stars stood tall for whatever was thrown at them as they successfully managed time to return to winning ways following their back to back draws against Homeboyz.Vihiga Bullets 0-0 KCBElsewhere in Kakamega, Vihiga Bullets held KCB to a barren draw in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) clash staged at the Bukhungu Stadium.The result comes as a huge blow to KCB who were looking to apply pressure on log leaders Kakamega Homeboyz while Bullets continue their impressive results since appointing Salim Abdalla as their new head coach.Sharks XI: Brandon Nathan, Tom Teka, Boniface Onyango, Alphonse Omija, Julius Masaba (John Omondi 80′), Fredrick Alushula (Geoffrey Onyango 74′), Patillah Omolo, Douglas Mokaya, Fortune Omoto (Enock Wanyama 80′), Felix Oluoch, Henry Juma.Unused Subs: Brian Olango, Samuel Olwande, Ronaldo Odede, Keith Imbali, Steve Otieno, Izaak Otieno.City Stars XI: Jacob Osano, Calvins Opolo, Kennedy Onyango, Salim Abdalla, Dennis Wanjala, Peter Opiyo (Elvis Noor 46′), Sven Yidah, Oliver Maloba, Davis Agesa (Nicolas Kipkirui 78′), Mike Madoya, Ezekiel Odera (Rodgers Okumu 78′).Unused subs: Steve Njunge, Herit Mungai, Edwin Buliba, Lennox Ogutu, John Kamau, Timothy Ouma.
