NSL: Resilient Mombasa Stars floor Patriots to earn second season win

Mombasa Stars won their second match of the 2024-25 National Super League (NSL) season on Wednesday evening after overcoming Dimba Patriots 1-0 at Serani Sports Ground, Mombasa County.

Rodgers Okumu scored the only goal in the tenth minute, heading over Dimba Patriots goalkeeper after connecting Kevin Washe’s cross from the left flank.

Patriots were forced to make a quick first-half substitute, introducing Seth Lucheli to end Mombasa Stars' dominance.

Despite the tactical change, Patriots still had a tough afternoon with their striking force led by Steve Augo, Rasto Otieno and Danis Omondi being neutralized by stifling Stars defenders Eddy Oloo and Hawkins Ademba as they did not manage a single shot on target in the opening half.

Okumu almost doubled the home team lead three minutes to the end of the first half, but his shot went inches over the top bar.

Five minutes into the second, Ali Ghalib's powerful shot deflected off the upright for a corner after captain Kevin Washe set free him free.

A minute later Stars midfielder Lucky Kaingu thumped a powerful 20-yard shot but was punched by Patriots goalkeeper Garvin Momanyi and cleared by his defenders.

In the 70th minute of the match, Danis Omondi made Dimba Patriots first attempt in the second half but his header went over the top post.

Speaking after the match, Mombasa Stars Coach Mohammed "Madaga" Hussein rallied his strikers to be more clinical in the coming fixtures.

"We knew Dimba Patriots is a power play team so we needed to be more defensive and am happy my players won the three points; we need to be more clinical and score more goals".

His Dimba Patriots counterpart Idd Shikanda said they will pick positives from the encounter as they plot a comeback against 3K FC in their next assignment.  

"Our players did their best, on Sunday we were able to pick a point here but today we were dominated but that happens in football, it was not our day".