Gor mahia striker Michael Olunga is proving to be a true revelation during the 2015 season. Yet again he literally rose to the occasion to head home the all important goal that enabled a poorly prepared harambee Stars side to register a 1-0 win over highly ranked Cape Verde in the 2018 World cup qualifiers.<\/p>\n
It is a surprise win over a team that came into the game ranked number 32 in the FIFA rankings against Kenya at 125.\u00a0 It is also a surprise considering that Kenya had preparations that were shoddy even by Kenyan standards. Many players arrived 2 days before the match. There were no friendly matches. And key players like Arnold Origi and Ayub Masika were missing altogether.<\/p>\n
Olunga’s fine form for the national team marks the first time since the 1990s that the main goal-scorer for Harambee stars is a Gor Mahia player. One would have to go back to the 1990s era of players like Steve Okumu and Steve Odiaga and Peter Dawo. But even they were not counted on in every game. Olunga is proving to be the much sought after replacement for Dennis Oliech. Put a good team around him and with proper preparations he can steer Kenya to the next Africa Nations cup.\/<\/p>\n
Additional reporting via goal.com<\/p>\n
Kenya dictated the game in both halves and should blames themselves for not registering a convincing victory ahead of the return leg set for Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Olunga was quick off the mark and should have scored early on had Kay Carlos not stopped him. The assistant referee was unfair in denying Kenya an early corner. Then Cape Verde danger man Jorge Djanimy had a shot at the Kenyan goal. Djanimy has scored six goals for Cape Verde this season and he was always going to give the Kenyan backline trouble.<\/p>\n
But in the 9th minute, it was Kenya, who went ahead first with Olunga<\/strong> heading home a well delivered cross from Clifftone Miheso. It was the third goal for the Gor Mahia forward and the ball found him perfectly placed to score. The goal looked to have rattled the visitors, who resorted to putting long balls behind the Kenyan backline but this was dealt with well by Haroun Shakava and David Owino.<\/p>\n The move did not work and it was the home side, who got the first corner in the 21st minute with a second coming after ten minutes as Harambee Stars looked to dominate the game. Kenyan captain Victor Wanyama<\/strong> was cautioned though it looked like Anthony Akumu, who should have been punished as he was the one, who had brought down Marco Suarez.<\/p>\n he visitors then resorted to pushing back the Kenyan backline but they went too far inside and were always caught in an off- side position. Mendes always caught in an offside position and Stars\u2019 were glad to go to the break with a slim lead.<\/p>\n On resumption Kenya rested Clifftone Miheso for Kevin Amwayi and continued to control the proceedings. At the hour mark, Victor Wanyama nearly scored second goal but his well taken forced a finger tip save from Josima Dias in the Cape Verde goal.<\/p>\n Kenya were in trouble six minutes after that when Jorge Djanimy was denied by the wood work after beating Boniface Oluoch in goal with a long effort. That move once again exposed the frailty of the Kenyan backline.\u00a0Kenya dominated the last few minutes of the game with Cape Verde looking to have been affected by the local weather and will have to wait for the second leg to overturn the result.<\/p>\n