City Stars hit Vihiga Bullets to move out of relegation zone

©Nairobi City Stars

FKFPL City Stars hit Vihiga Bullets to move out of relegation zone

Festus Chuma 15:00 - 16.04.2023

Simba wa Nairobi thump Bullets for sixth win of the season.

Nairobi City Stars on Sunday moved out of the relegation zone after walloping struggling Vihiga Bullets 5-2 in a FKF Premier League match played at Kasarani Annex  in Nairobi.

Vihiga Bullets, chocking from a crippling financial dry spell, were always vulnerable to a City Stars side keen to get back to winning ways at home after going for three matches without a win.

And as expected it was  City Stars  who were on the front foot early on as Mohamed Ali came close to an opener, but his shot lacked the desired accuracy.

Nonetheless, with just over 15 minutes on the clock, Kelvin Etemesi  finally broke his duck. After a mistake at the back Peter Halwenge played a ball into the box which found its way into the path of Etemesi, the former Kangemi All Stars striker  showed just why he was brought on board by Muyoti a season ago as he lashed his volley into the back of the net.

The Simba wa Nairobi were soon 2-0 up as Clifford Otieno picked out Etemesi inside their own half and the forward raced past defenders and placed the ball into the far corner.

City Stars were  awarded a penalty which was converted by Deniss Wanjala to extend their lead in the 19th minute.

Vihiga Bullets attacked in numbers as they looked to level matters, but Bullets’ attackers were frustrated by the Simba wa Nairobi’s tight defence which was marshaled by Edwin Buliba.

Although the hosts were dominating, Nicholas Muyoti would be left annoyed as City Stars defence were caught napping and Joseph Oyugi reduced the deficit taking off some of the shine as the Simba wa Nairobi took a 3-1 lead into the interval.

The second half though, saw City Stars determined to reinstate their three-goal advantage and Antony Kimani came close to doing just that, but a superb save kept out the veteran’s long-range drive.

Steve Njunge  was enjoying an impressive display in front of goal as he then produced sensational double save, first to deny Derrick Tekkwo  from close range and then Fredrick Ochieng on the rebound.

It was an exciting half of football, but once again City Stars had their backs to the wall as Vihiga Bullets launched wave after wave of pressure.

But with the hour mark approaching, cracks were beginning to show at the back for City Stars as Bullets  looked to play on the counter-attack. This saw Muyoti respond as he brought on Dennis Oalo and Samuel Kapen in order to sharpen the attack.

City Stars did have opportunities to kill off the game with just over 20 minutes to go, but Kapen was yet again the unfortunate party as Nyongesa came to his side’s rescue.

Nyongesa was standing tall and single-handedly stood between City Stars and a barrage of goals but Stars added their fourth courtesy of Vincent Owino in the 74th minute before second-half substitute Kapen added the fifth with four minutes remaining to the end of the game. 

However, some late pressure from Bullets saw Simba wa Nairobi's defender Kennedy Onyango deflect the ball into his own net.

The win has now ended  a run of four losses in the league for Nicholas Muyoti's charges who have moved out of the relegation zone to position 15th on the standings.