Mombasa Stars edge Mombasa United in thrilling derby

In a fierce National Super League (NSL) derby that had fans on the edge of their seats, Mombasa Stars triumphed over their local rivals Mombasa United with a narrow 1-0 victory at Serani Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The only goal of the match came in the 67th minute, courtesy of Rodgers Okumu, who confidently converted a penalty after Mombasa United's Harun Juma handled the ball inside the penalty box. Okumu's strike proved to be the difference in a game full of drama and high-intensity action.

The match kicked off at a blistering pace, with both teams eager to assert their dominance. Early chances came for Mombasa Stars' Mwema Mwanzah and Mombasa United's Bakari Nyae, but both goalkeepers—Stars' Ally Omeyer and United's Abdulrahman Mwinyi—were quick to respond, making crucial saves to keep the game scoreless.

In the 20th minute, veteran midfielder Wilberforce Lugogo came close to breaking the deadlock for United with a well-taken 20-yard free-kick that narrowly missed the target, kissing the side netting.

The first half ended in a 0-0 deadlock, with both teams having their fair share of attacking chances but unable to find the back of the net.

As the second half unfolded, Mombasa United made a key substitution, introducing Jackson Water to add more firepower to their attacking third.

However, the breakthrough came for Mombasa Stars when, at the 67-minute mark, Harun Juma's handball inside the box handed the Stars a golden opportunity. Okumu stepped up and calmly slotted home the penalty, putting his team ahead.

Despite the setback, Mombasa United pushed hard for an equalizer. Sammy Riziki came agonizingly close in the 85th minute, his header clipping the top bar before bouncing back into play. However, Stars' defense, led by Eddy Oloo and Hawkins Ademba, held firm and cleared the danger, ensuring their side would walk away with all three points.

The win lifted Mombasa Stars out of the relegation zone, moving them to 17th place with 21 points, just five points behind Mombasa United, who sit in 16th place in the NSL standings.

After the match, Mombasa Stars' coach Mohammed Hussein "Madaga" praised his team's performance, saying: "It was a tough, tense derby, but we kept our cool, pressed high, and deserved the win."

On the other side, Mombasa United's coach Hamadi Said remained positive despite the loss, stating: "It was a difficult game, but we saw many positives. We will bounce back stronger."

NSL Saturday Results:

Darajani Gogo 2-1 Vihiga United

Kisumu All Stars 1-0 Muhoroni Youth

Nzoia Sugar 3-3 Samwest FC