Nairobi City Stars have moved to within two points of Football Kenya Federation Premier League leaders Kakamega Homeboyz after thrashing Mathare United 3-0 at Thika Stadium.The title-chasing outfit unleashed terror on Mathare in the second half after a dispirited show in the first one to bag the tenth win of the season.The result on the other hand complicated Mathare’s chances of beating the drop as they are now nine points adrift of safety.City Stars head coach Nicholas Muyoti admitted that his pep talk at half time won him the game.”I am satisfied with the win although we did not play well in the first half. I encouraged the team at half time and I am happy they reacted in a positive way,” said the former Kakamega Homeboyz gaffer.His Mathare counterpart took issue with the fitness levels of his players but promised to work on it.There was nothing to write home about the game precisely in the first half as play was largely clustered in the midfield leaving either goalkeepers with an easy task of taking goal kicks rather than making saves. Tempers flaired up in the 12th minute as Timothy Ouma and Meshack Muyonga engaged in an heated exchange after the latter made a dangerous tackle on the former. Both players ended up in the referee’s book. City Stars who had started a handful of players who rarely make the starting team lacked the rhythm they have been displaying in the previous rounds and struggled to create chances. The midfield battle that looked even in the first quarter of the game began to shift in favor of City Stars as the clock continued to tick, partly due to the experience of the duo of Peter Opiyo and Anthony Kimani who were instrumental in handling and containing the pressure from Mathare. The 2008 league champions were forced to a unwanted substitution in the 35th minute when Alphonce Ndonye limped off with his place taken by Dennis Monda. After a rather disappointing show in the first half, the game came into life in the final stanza with both teams creating chances and making quick transitions. Mathare made the second change before restart where Khalid Jumaan came in for Douglas Kibet who was largely off colour on the day in which he earned his first league start for the club. City Stars took the lead in the 51st minute through a unmarked Lennox Ogutu punished his former employer after rising high to head home a corner kick delivered by Ouma.They would double the lead in the 64tg minute through Ezekiel Odera who comfortably tapped in Ouma’s cross to put off Mathare’s hopes of restoring parity. After getting his job done, Odera paved way for Nicholas Kipkirui while Kimani was rested for Davies Agesa.In a bid to salvage at least a point, Mathare made a couple of changes only for their efforts to suffer a blow in the 85th minute when Kipkirui looped the ball past an advancing Omondi to net the third goal.Mathare United XI Byrne Omondi (GK), Kennedy Ochieng, Victor Odhiambo, Harun Junior, Tony Odhiambo, Meshack Muyonga, Alphonse Ndonye, Daniel Otieno, Clifford Alwanga, Douglas Kibet, Eugene WethuliSubstitutes Tom Kangeta (GK), Austin Ochieng, Francis Kamau, Dennis Monda, Said Musa, Martin Nderitu, Khalid Jumaan, Chris Oduor, Donald Ange Nairobi City Stars XISteve Njung’e, John Kamau, Kennedy Onyango, Calvin Masawa, Dennis Wanjala, Lennox Ogutu, Anthony Kimani,Elvis Noor, Peter Opiyo, Ezekiel Odera, Timothy OumaSubstitutes Jacob Osano, Davies Agesa, Augustin Kuta, Kelvin Okumu, Nicholas Kipkirui, Oliver Maloba, Herit Mungai, Salim Abdallah
