Posta Rangers’ Cavin Odongo in action as he is closed on by City Stars captain John Amboko during their SPL match.PHOTO/Timothy Olobulu.
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 22 – Georson Likono was on target as Posta Rangers bounced back to winning ways with a 1-0 win over hard fighting City Stars at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
Posta entered the clash from a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Chemelil Sugar and it was of importance for head coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, who was crowned the April Coach of the Month to assert his authority.
Otieno made changes to his squad bringing in Simon Mbugua for Hashim Mukhwana, Collins Neto coming in ahead of Dennis Mukaisi while Titus Achesa started on the left side of attack at the expense of Joseph Nyaga and Likono started ahead of Edwin Mwaura.
City Stars languishing at the relegation zone and facing myriads of problems off the pitch had come into this match on the backdrop of a 3-0 loss away to Ulinzi Stars last weekend and needed the three points to lift themselves off the gaping mouth of relegation.
It was Rangers who had the best start to the match and in the 10th minute they came close with Achesa missing a sitter at the edge of the six yard box after City Stars captain John Amboko had failed to clear a low cross from Likono.
In the 18th minute, some good play from Rangers saw Likonoh pull back the ball for Moses Otieno at the edge of the box but the latter’s shot was deflected inches wide though the referee gave a goal kick instead of a corner.
Rangers got into the lead though three minutes later when Likono headed into an empty net after Cavin Odongo’s attempt had been deflected high by the onrushing City Stars goalie Roonie Kagunzi.
Posta almost doubled the lead in the 25th minute from an indirect freekick after Kagunzi handled the ball outside his area but Jockins Atudo’s shot hit the wall.
Kagunzi almost did another blunder at the stroke of half-time with Cavin Odongo’s shot sliding past his palms but luckily the ball lost pace and he managed to collect it before it made way into the net.
City Stars duo of Luis Masika (left) and John Amboko (right) attempts to block a shot from Posta Ranger’s Collins Neto.PHOTO/Timothy Olobulu.
In the second half, City Stars put their act together, playing better with Iddi Shikanda doing a decent job of controlling the pace in midfield.
However, Posta had a solid defensive and John ‘Bobby’ Ogolla’s men did not find a way through.
Fifteen minutes to the final whistle, Odongo had a shot blocked by Kagunzi after picking up the ball with his initial cut back to Nyaga blocked by Amboko.
City Stars came close two minutes to stoppage time with Jimmy Bageya’s shot coming off the crossbar after rushing to the box to meet a low cross from substitute Daniel Otieno.
