Nairobi City Stars won their first FKF Premier League game of the 2022/2023 season on Saturday following a 2-1 away win over Sofapaka at Kasarani Stadium.
Sofapaka opened the score sheet in the 20th minute of the game through their defender Roday Manga, but City Stars neutralized the lead five minutes through veteran striker Ezekiel Odera.
Adrew Kisilu scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute when he drilled home from 20 yards out after some good build-up play from the visitors.
There was little to separate City Stars and Sofapaka during the early exchanges of the match, as both teams struggled to find passing rhythms. As the dust settled around the 10th-minute mark, it appeared that the visitors looked more comfortable on the ball.
With 15 minutes on the clock, Sofapaka managed to make a way into the City Stars box and summoned goalkeeper Jacob Osano to make a save which he nearly fumbled, but was quick to make amends after mishandling the ball.
In the 20th minute, Sofapaka went ahead courtesy of Rody Manga’s penalty after Odera handled the ball in the area.
Nicholas Muyoti’s men raised the game after that and they were awarded a penalty in the 25th minute after Eic Nshirimana handled the ball in the area.
Odera took it upon himself to make something happen and drove the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
Two minutes later, Brian Wepo had a clear to double Sofapaka the lead after taking a great run behind the defense but City Stars custodian Jacob Oaano stretched wide punching the ball back to play.
Sofapaka threw a punch of their own a little over the closing period of the first half with a smart shot from a decent area by Olwande before seeing a free-kick from a foul on Sifuna miss target.
City Stars were dominant in the second period, relentlessly pressing forward with Olwande remaining firm in front of Omondi’s goal.
Sofapaka remained pinned in their own half and Manga nearly made it 2-1 for the Batoto ba Mungu in the 75th minute with a strike from the edge of the box that took a nasty deflection and looped over the bar.
A host of substitutions resulted in a stop-start game in the final 15 minutes, but it was City Stars who took advantage of a counter-attack, and Adrew Kisilu slotted in an easy ball to give the Simba wa Nairobi their maiden win of the season.
