Elite Preseason Cup: Rainbow FC wipe floor with Premier League side City Stars
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 08.08.23. | 11:26
Ali Salim put up a man of the match display for Rainbow, scoring once and earning a penalty that was successfully converted.
Newly-promoted side to the National Super League Rainbow FC showed mettle, class, and a bit of arrogance as they saw off Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) side Nairobi City Stars 3-1 at the M-Pesa Academy Foundation grounds in the Elite Preseason Cup.
From the way the two teams warmed up, anyone new to the local game would have comfortably picked Rainbow as the top-tier side at the expense of City Stars.
Following the defeat, City Stars' chances of advancing to the final of the competition were put off, with Rainbow and Bidco United left to fight for the only available spot.
For a team set to debut in the NSL, it was the perfect test for Rainbow FC and they showed just how good they are and the type of quality they will add to the second tier.
Rainbow opened the scoring after just five minutes to take an early advantage, with starboy Tyrone Kariuki slotting the ball past Julius Ombacho after dispossessing Edwin Buliba.
It was all Rainbow in the better part of the first half, with Ali Salim, Telvin Omutere and Ryan Ogam all coming close with long range efforts that kept Ombacho on his toes.
10 minutes into the second half, Ali Salim danced his way past Nairobi City Stars defenders to slot the ball into the net and double the advantage for Rainbow. What a show of confidence it was.
Five minutes later, Ali was at it again but this time his treacherous feet saw him brought down in the box, earning his team a penalty in the process.
Abdul Rahman Mohamed stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 3-0.
With the comfortable 3-0 lead, Rainbow knocked the ball around with poise, but with intent at the same time, looking dangerous on every attack nevertheless.
Two minutes to the final whistle, Simba wa Nairobi pulled one back from the spot after a Rainbow FC defender handled the ball in the box prompting the referee Josephine Wanjiku to award a penalty.
Ronnie Kola stepped up to take the resultant spotkick and made no mistake as he slotted home to make it 3-1.
However, it was too late as Rainbow held on to the two-goal advantage to the final whistle.
.jpg)
