Plucky City Stars deny 10-man Bandari

Ten-man domestic cup champions, Bandari FC were forced to a pulsating 2-2 draw by home side Nairobi City Stars as both teams opened their 2016 SportPesa Premier League season at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

Anthony Kimani netted a brace for Bandari, his second coming from the spot to cancel out goals from Oscar Mbugua and Jimmy Bageya before they lost midfielder Musa Mudde to a straight red deep into the second half in an incident-packed affair.

The Dockers who were smarting from a 2-0 away loss in their preliminary round of the CAF Confederations Cup showed early intent to stamp their billing as this season’s strong title contenders when Kimani rattled the woodwork with barely three minutes on the clock.

However, it was City Stars who survived relegation by the skin of their teeth at the back end of last season who took the shock lead in an effervescent start to the match in the fifth minute when Mbugua unloaded a powerful shot from outside the 18-yard box for the opener.

The net-buster gave Harambee Stars keeper, Wilson Obungu, no chance in the Bandari goal but it roused Twahir Muhiddin’s side into action as they chased the leveler and there was no surprise when they made it 1-1 in the 16th through the dangerous Kimani.

From a corner, the ball was floated in and City Stars custodian, Ronny Kagunzi and his defenders fluffed their lines for Felly Mulumba to capitalize and set up Kimani for the equalizer before Bandari’s Mohammed Sharrif was booked for a foul on City Stars striker, Bageya.

The home side then went ahead again in the 28th in fine style when Bageya, their savior last season, got off the mark when he played a 1-2 with Ouma before beating Obungu to leave his side with a 2-1 advantage at the break as former Gor Mahia assistant boss, John ‘Bobby’ Ogolla marked his debut with his new side.

But the GOtv Shield champions who splashed heavily in the close season to fortify their status as title challengers, hit back after the breather through that man Kimani again when he tucked in a penalty past Kagunzi for 2-2.

Calvin Massawa handled in the box just minutes for the spot-kick to atone for the Dockers who had a goal from a free kick outside the area ruled out for an infringement in the box.

They were then forced to play the last 15 minutes a man down when Musa Mudde received his marching orders after the midfielder engaged in an altercation with Ugandan compatriot Bageya who got a yellow for the incident.

With three minutes to regulation time Benson Iregi thought he had spurned the chance to claim the winner for Stars but Obungu cleared his effort from an off side position.

Two minutes of added time failed to produce the winner as joint pre-season title favourites, champions Gor and Bandari failed to spark in their opening matches of the season after being forced to stalemates by Chemelil (0-0) and City Stars.

STARTING XIs

City Stars: Ronny Kagunzi, Davies Ikocheli, Calvin Matawa, Luis Masika, John Amboko, Arthur Museve, Oscar Mbugua, Peter Musiime, Sap Yusuf, Jimmy Bageya, Ezekiel Omulo

Bandari FC: Wilson Obungu, Edwin Wafula, Duncan Otsuna, Sharrif Mohammed, Felly Mulumba, Musa Mudde, Edwin Lavatsa, Bernard Mang’oli, Dan Sserunkuma, Anthony Kimani, George Abege

Report by Mkalla wa Mwambodze, Abdi Rizack and Alex Kinyua