courtesy of futaa.com
Harambee Stars Sunday afternoon secured a boost to their Africa Cup of Nations Qualification through a narrow 1-0 win over visiting Comoros in their first round first leg qualifier match at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Lommel United’s Johanna Omollo secured the lone goal in the 34th minute through a thunderbolt that Comoros goalkeeper Mroivili Mahmoud could not contain.
This was only the second clear attempt on goal for the Harambee Stars side after a competitive start to the match that saw Stars come under pressure that David Owino and Lawrence Olum dealt with.
Slow start
Harambee Stars however did not enjoy a bright start to the match as Comoros attacked and almost scored in the fourth minute through Bachirou but Lawrence Olum and David Owino recovered in time to clear the danger.
Mchangama’s freekick then headed straight into Obungu’s hands before a dangerous backass from Olum almost turned expensive for Stars but Obungu was quick to clear the danger.
Dennis Oliech and Victor Wanyama both came inches close through superb strikes that came minutes apart with the former forcing fans onto their fit. Stars had a goal disallowed in the dying minute but the Zambian referee ruled that Johanna Omollo was offside.
Calabar almost sneaked through the defenders in the 25th minute but is out-muscled but loses the ball to the hawk eyed defenders. Ben El Fardou almost scores from a one on one after Jamal lost the ball in the midfield but Olum slipped the ball wide.
Missed chances
The second half started on a bright note for Harambee Stars but Wanyama narrowly missed to slot home a cross from the right by KRC Genk speedy winger Ayub Timbe in the 50th minute.
Allan Wanga attempted a shot in the 60th minute but was blocked as Olum started limping from a knock. He was later pulled out for AFC Leopards’ James Situma as below per Jamal Mohammed was also replaced McDonald Mariga.
McDonald exhibited to the fans what they have been lacking in his three year absence with a brilliant turn in the midfield five minute to the stoppage time but he shot his screamer inches over the bar.
Sealed deal
Comoros attacked towards the end of the match through Bachirou but he was booked for diving in the area after a challenge by David Cheche Ochieng’ as Aboud Omar’s corner kick was headed wide to leave the match locked at 1-0 ahead of the return leg.
Harambee Stars will now travel to the Comoros Island in a fortnight for the return match as they seek to advance into the second round and finally the group stages on the continental tie.
Starting XI; 1 Wilson Oburu (GK), 15.David Owino, 3.Aboud Omar, 5.David Cheche Ochieng, 7.Lawrence Olum, 12.Victor Wanyama (CPT), 2.Jamal Mohammed, 9.Johana Omollo, Ayub Timbe, 10.Dennis Oliech, 11.Allan Wanga.
Subs; 18.Jerim Onyango, 4.Joackins Atudo, 14.James Situma, 13.Edwin Lavatsa, 9. Clifton Miheso, 17.McDonald Mariga, 6. Antony Akumu
I watched that match. The game harambee stars displayed today was below what we usually see in the KPL every week. There was no time we played ten passes without interruption. The team which played CECAFA finals would have played better than today’s team. In addition, we should have scored more goals. There were alot of miss~passes which shows that preparations were inadequate because players couldn’t read each others minds. No friendlies were played before Sunday. Some players even arrived in the last evening and didn’t bond enough with others. In summary, we have individually bright players who are not yet a team and our preparations are below average.
Performance, below average. C MINUS or a D PLUS.
I would give a D plus for the performance of the stars
Calaba one of the three locals who joined the foreign legions
Congrats Calaba for the consistency at Gor and Harambee
It doesn’t make sense to have all those local players in the camp for weeks, then you field foreign players who have not even trained together.
Foregn players ni bure kabisa, we have good local players, by the way Harambes stars ni Wajaluo tupuu,Ochieng, Olum. Omollo,Oliech, Owino, Oburu,Onyango, Akumu, Atudo among others, football ni ya jokanyanam na bado, wakina Enock agwanda bado wanakuja. nowonder Gor iko juu kama matiti !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ja Ngwech, what are you trying to say? Do you know that even GM has non Jokanyanam players?Toka hapo tafadhali,but that doesn not mean I dont feel you!