Kenya’s National soccer team, the Harambee Stars, defeated the black stars of Ghana, 1-0, to retain position three in group F. The Harambee Stars earned their first win in Group F thanks to a 40th minute own goal by defender Nicholas Opoku. Both sides came close to scoring before the half hour mark.
And it was the hosts who first tested Richard Ofori but, the Maritzburg United Number one pulled a stop to Ochieng Ovella’s powerful strike from the right side.
The Black Stars managed to unlock the Kenya defence with a laser pass, which found Waris at the edge of the box; but he was too careless with his strike.
After 36 minutes, Afriyie Acquah wriggled past his marker in the middle and released Atsu on the left, the Newcastle man picked out Partey inside the box but his final pass to Waris was blocked.
In the 40th minute, the Harambee Stars jumped into the lead courtesy of an own goal, by the Ghanian defender. Eric Omondi whipped in cross from the right into the box and Black Stars centre back Nicholas Opoku went into with a sliding clearance but that directed the ball into his own net.
Three minutes later, Ghana were awarded a free kick; close to the Kenya box, but Atsu’s kick was cleared out. After the interval, Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah introduced striker Raphael Dwamena to replace winger Edwin Gyasi and they kept pressing for an elusive equalizer.
Kenya were reduced to ten men after Joash Onyango was shown a straight red for a deliberate foul on Waris who was clear on goal to at the edge of the box. The resultant free-kick was wasted by Partey.
On the 73rd minute, Dwamena blasted the clearest opportunity of the match when he chipped the ball over goalkeeper Matasi and above the post. The Levante man, who was inside the box, had collected a perfect pass from Partey.
Ghana kept on knocking at the door and with ten minutes to go, Partey shot at goal but he dragged his shot too wide.
Two minutes from time, Acquah smashed in a shot from outside the box but it was feeble and straight forward to beat goalkeeper Matasi.
Kenya stayed compact and started ballooning the balls to run down the clock as the minutes petered out, for the end of the match.
This results did not change standings in group F, with Ghana still at the summit followed by Sierra Leone; who play Ethiopia tomorrow away at the Hawass International Stadium , hawass(Ethiopia). The Kenyans will be playing for a positive result for Ethiopia to keep the group open. The match between Ethiopia and Sierra Leone kicks off 16..GMT, tomorrow.
In the third round fixtures, Ghana will play Sierra Leone at home while, Kenya plays Ethiopia away in matches slated for October 10, 2018.
These are the other results for matches played, so far, today:
- South Africa 0 – 0 Libya
- Seychelles 0-3 Cameroon
- Uganda 0-0 Tanzania
- Comoros 1-1 Cameroon
- Gabon 1-1 Burundi
- Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Sudan
- Mozambique 2-2 Guinea
- Namibia 1-1 Zambia
Kenya Starting Eleven
Patrick Matasi (GK), Abud Omar, Philemon Otieno(Joackins Atudo, Joash Onyango, Musa Mohammed, Ismael Gonzalez, Dennis Odhiambo, Francis Kahata, Eric Johanna, Ovella Ochieng, Michael Olunga.
Substitutes
Faruk Shikalo (GK), Eric Ouma, David Ochieng, Jockins Atudo, Anthony Akumu, Pistone Mutamba, Jesse Were
Ghana Starting eleven
1. Richard Ofori 12. Andy Yiadom 4. Dan Opare 3. Nicholas Opoku 18. Daniel Amartey 6. Afriyie Acquah 8. Ebenezer Ofori 7. Christian Atsu 14. Edwin Gyasi 5. Thomas Partey 9. Majeed Waris
Substitutes
Lawrence Ati, Harrison Afful, Kwadwo Asamoah, Isaac Sackey, William Owusu, Raphael Dwamena, Rashid Sumaila