City Stars survive late Sharks scare to advance to Elite PreSeason Cup finale

Goalkeeper Steve Njunge proved to be the hero of the day as Nairobi City Stars survived a late scare to advance to the final of the Elite PreSeason Cup after trouncing Kariobangi Sharks 3-2 on post match penalties following a thrilling 2-2 draw in regulation time of the semifinal encounter played on Thursday afternoon at Kasarani Annex Stadium.

The Nicholas Muyoti coached side had let slip a two goal advantage given to them by a Victor Otieno first half brace when Kevin Luke Otiala converted a penalty before super substitute Tyson Otieno forced the game into penalties where Njunge saved three penalties to help his side storm into the finals.

"We had a good game in the first half but in the second half we made some changes which did not work out. They benefitted from that but I am glad we managed to get over the line in the penalties which we could have easily avoided," City Stars head coach Nicholas Muyoti revealed.

Despite defeat, Sharks boss William Muluya cut a delighted figure for the way his team pushed till the final whistle.

"Coming from behind in the second half was really pleasing to see. We needed grit in the second half and that is exactly what I got. As a coach, I could have prepared them well for the penalties but we take that as a learning experience," he said.

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It is Kariobangi Sharks who dictated the early tempo in the match and that early dominance could have easily paid off as early as the eighth minute when the diminutive Shariff Musa stole a yard on the City Stars defense with a cute run in behind that was well spotted by Fortune Omoto.

Despite getting himself through, his low shot on goal was however dealt with Steve Njunge who punched the ball out for a corner that led to nothing.

Sharks continued with their domination on ball possession through the opening quarter of an hour but it is City Stars who made them pay for their fruitless domination as Vincent Otieno finished some quick transition play.

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It started in the middle of the park when a Sharks pass was intercepted. Newton Ochieng' ushered the counter as his cute lobbed ball found Samuel Kapen in acres of space on the right wing.

With Sharks defenders retreating, Kapen cleverly layed off the ball after spotting the run of Otieno who only tapped into the back of the empty net to double City Stars' lead.

Eight minutes later, the same combination worked again as Kapen's pin point delivery found Otieno who sealed his brace with a glancing header past John Otieno.

On noticing the lack of desired effect in the game, Sharks head coach made double substitutions in the middle of the park as Keith Imbali and Kevin Wangaya came on for Issa Lumumba and Isaac Wasambo on the half hour mark.

The two, despite helping Sharks keep better control of the ball, could not have any immediate impact on the scoreline as City Stars carried the two goal advantage at the break.

Sharks came out revitalized in the second half and a after a myriad of wasteful conversion in front of goal, the team finally managed to pull one back on the 71st minute when Kevin Luke scored from a penalty awarded to them after Tyson was adjudged to have been brought down in the area.

Just three minutes later, Tyson himself got on the scoresheet after poking home a poorly handled cross into the area that Njunge failed to clear properly, a goal that forced the game into penalties where Njunge atoned for his error in superb fashion as he saved three attempts.

Penalty Scorers

City Stars - Ezekiel Odera, Mohammed Omar, Kenny Onyango

Sharks - Paul Odhiambo, Geoffrey Onyango

Missed Penalties

City Stars - Anthony Kimani, Samuel Kapen

Kariobangi Sharks - Kevin Luke, Kevin Wangaya, Fortune Omoto

Starting XI

Kariobangi Sharks; John Otieno (GK), Frederick Alushula, Geoffrey Onyango, Dan Guya, Kevin Luke Otiala, Collins Obanda, Isaac Wasambo, Issa Lumumba, Fortune Omoto, Julius Masaba, Shariff Musa

Nairobi City Stars; Njunge Steve (GK), Rowland Makati, Kennedy Onyango, Kennedy Oduor, Noor Elvisz Kapeni Samuel, Vincent Otieno, Newton Ochieng', Kelvin Etemesi, Dennis Wanjala.