Stars draw with Mauritius at Kasarani to progress to second round

Harambee Stars sailed to the second round of the 2018 World Cup pre-qualifiers after battling to a barren draw with minnows Mauritius at a sun-soaked Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani Sunday.

Despite the underwhelming performance coupled by bad lack, Stars progressed to the second round on a 5-2 aggregate win aided by their crushing victory in the first leg in Mauritius five days ago.

Stars now a face a tough task against Cape Verde - a team ranked 41st globally -in the next stage.

Kenya was expected to easily win Sunday's return leg by a convincing margin but they struggled to impose themselves against the Indian Ocean Islanders who are placed 168th in the Fifa rankings.

The Bobby Williamson-coached side, playing at home and enjoying the support of a partisan crowd, lacked the killer instinct, with centre-forward Michael Olunga failing to convert two clear chances that came his way in the first half while the usually efficient Ayub Timbe also failed to make his creativity count.

WANGA IN
Skipper Victor Wanyama, deployed to shield the defence at the base of the midfield in Kenya’s 4-1-2-3 formation, opted for long range efforts in either side of the half but it could not get Stars the needed breakthrough.

With desperation creeping in, fans in the terraces started calling for Allan Wanga who had a bad game in the first leg to be brought in and Williamson eventually brought him in for Ulinzi Stars player Kevin Amwayi midway through the second half.

However, there was way no way out for Stars.

The visitors defended well and will have custodian Jean Kevin Loius to thank for yesterday’s draw as well as their back line that worked overtime to keep Stars quiet.
Loius was alert, denying Wanyama and Brian Mandela. He also thwarting a host of attempts at goal by Kenya late in the second half.

Amwayi, who was selected ahead of Wanga, skied his shot in the 70th minute. “It was a one-sided game.

We had a couple of chances which we should have utilised better. We have strikers who can score goals but it did not just work for us today,” Williamson said.