Shakava, Olunga on target as Kenya beat Mauritius
Kenya’s Harambee Stars opened their campaign for the 2018 World Cup with a 5-2 win over hosts Mauritius in a round one preliminary qualifier match at the Stade Anjalay in Belle Vue Maural on Wednesday.
Goals from Johana Omollo and Ayub Timbe got Kenya off to a quick start as Kenya took a 2-0 halftime lead. Ayub Timbe is becoming a master of curving the ball home from impossible angles. Against Comoros last year, he scored a free-kick from a difficult angle. This time against Mauritius , he scored directly from a corner. The last time yours truly recalls Harambee stars scoring directly from a corner was in 1989 when Gor Mahia winger Sammy Onyango “Jogoo” curved home a corner kick during a world cup qualifier against Malawi.
Towering Gor Mahia defender Harun Shakava scored the third goal in the 49th minute when he slid forward to beat Mauritian defenders to the ball. Stars were now in a commanding 3-0 lead. But they became complacent and conceded two goals. The first, a penalty in the 68th minute by Jean Steve Jonathan. The second came in the 77th minute from a goal mouth melee through skipper Kevin Bru, who plies his trade with England’s Championship side Ipswich Town.
With the score at 3-2, Kenya took control of the game with goals from Johanna Omollo and Gor Mahia striker Michael Olunga.
It marks the first time Kenya has won a match away from home since 2011. The win albeit against a team ranked number 168 in the FIFA rankings, offers coach Bobby Williamson a reprieve. His performance so far has been poor. Harambee stars also needed to put their disciplinary problems behind them.
The return match is next weekend at Kasarani. The aggregate winner plays Cape Verde next.
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Salsa yule jama ya FC aongee…..
Musa Moh’d had a terrible day with blunders galore.I hate it when he has to chase strikers coz he has no speed not to mention his height.Shakava and Olunga were excellent. KTN termed the win five star.I wonder which game they watched.The policy is still piga mpira mbele by Bobby;a true clueless coach.
Please remember we can’t disown our own just be patient .gor players are top class .the pleasure was too much heading to close of game and Mauritius could have scored by all means lets support them one day gor can play international
Five star is about the number of goals. we also have three star 4 star etc