Musa, Marcelo, Oluoch in action as Kenya hold Zambia
Three Kogalo players were in the starting line-up as a determined Harambee stars side held Zambia to a 1-1 draw in Ndola, Zambia. The three were left back Eric Ouma, keeper Boniface Oluoch and defender Musa Mohamed. Also in action were former Kogalo players David Owino Calabar and Anthony Akumu.
The match counted for nothing besides FIFA rankings as both teams are out of the running for qualification. However Harambee stars fans will rue the fact that poor preparations for their two matches against Guinea Bissau and player indiscipline in their home match against Zambia put paid to their hopes of qualifying for a tournament that they haven’t appeared at since 2004.
Additional Reporting from futaa.com
Zambia started off sharply with the dangerous TP Mazembe Forward RainFord Kalaba testing Boniface Oluoch with a long range left footed shot in the third minute but the Gor Mahia man was equal to it. Ayub Timbe was his pacy self on the right side of Stars attack, driving at full speed with the ball at his feet forcing Zambia to concede a corner in the 10th minute.
Grew
Spurs Midfielder Victor Wanyama slowly grew into the game and as a result Stanley Okumbi’s men started creating chances, Wanyama feeding Marcelo a good Crossfield ball but the Gor Mahia leftback mistimed his run and was flagged offside. Zambia had the ball in the net through kalaba but he was already flagged offside.
Abud Omar seemed to be home at left back displaying great composure in the 34th minute to nutmeg two Zambia attackers under immense pressure and comfortably passing the ball out of the danger zone.
Jesse Were connected with a cross from Timbe to plant a good header that flashed just wide off the post. Half time found the scores level at 0-0.
Second half
The second half started off as a balanced affair with both sides attacking in turns. Musa Mohammed was yellow carded in the 55th minute for a foul on Kalaba. Eric Ouma was replaced by Danson Kago on the hour mark and three minutes later Kenya were ahead, Ayub Timbe rushing to a long pass to lob the ball past the onrushing Zambia custodian Jacob Banda.
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Zambia almost levelled matters but Nathan sinkala’s header from a corner went agonizingly wide. He only had the keeper to beat. Olunga replaced Were in the 65th minute and ten minutes later, the former Gor Mahia man had the ball in the net but he was adjudged to have committed a foul while winning the ball and Zambia were rewarded a free kick instead.
Equalizer
Zambia finally found their equalizer, Felix Katongo brilliantly setting up danger man Rainford Kalaba to volley in the ball from three yards out in the 86th minute. Immediately after the restart, Timbe had a penalty appeal turned away after he appeared to have been brought down inside the box. Harambee Stars held on to survive last minute attacks from the home team to end the campaign with an encouraging away draw.
Starting XI: Boniface Oluoch (GK), Brian Mandela, David Calabar Owino, Musa Mohammed, Aboud Omar, Victor Wanyama (CPT), Anthony Akumu, Ayub Timbe, Eric Johanna, Erick Ouma and Jesse Were
Subs: David Okello (GK), David Ochieng’, Ismael Gonzalez, Victor Majid, Francis Kahata, Danson Kago, Michael Olunga
Eric Johana is a big let down to our two very good strikers. Kenya must discover a number 10 to replace Eric Johana if Jesse Were and Olunga are to score regularly for the national team.
Anyway I care the least……What matters to me now is whether Gor Mahia has utilized the international break to craft out some scoring formations. So far one week is gone and most probably wasted with unnecessary sideshows. Have we played any friendly match after bowing shamefully out of GoTV cup or did the TB take a break? Is there any friendly match against some credible opposition this week or will it be be business unusual on 10th September?
Upto 6 internationals from kogallo played so well for their countries yet the extremely daft coach in the name of ze Maria cannot quite craft a win
At times i wonder how coaches think, against Zambia yesterday it was clear they were much better on the ball moving forward since they have superb dribblers and ball players, they were always pinning us down while we defended majestically and caught them on the counter. With transitioning favoring them since they had the ball for much longer spells, the break we caught with Timbe’s goal is all we needed to win the match. They were always gonna push forward and hard for that equalizer like they did so with 10 mins on the clock it was time for a tactical substitution like removing Erick Johanna for a more defensive minded player like Ismail Gonzalez to partner with Akumu in defensive mid and cut out their attacks from the midfield or Eric Cheche to add an extra man in defense and thwart their attacks. Well nothing was done and we ended up drawing a match we could have easily won and worse with a technical substitution opportunity wasted…All in all boys put on a terrific show,the lapse was in the TB to read the game and counter it effectively
Ja Asego; I was furious,disgusted and shocked at the crazy sub’s by Okumbi.Man; I clearly remember that painful Nrb loss and it was a time for revenge and bragging rights not to mention good FIFA rankings.I felt Jesse and ‘marcelo’ should have hit 90min; while a good candidate for substitution was Johanna.Very disturbed by our Okumbi tactics
Okumbi saw the wisdom of fielding Ouma in the flanks, je ze Maria? Somebody just made my day that we will be given the trophy for the best team with so many draws, hahahaha