Harambee Stars hold stubborn Comoros, through to second round
PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO Harambee Stars' forward Ayub Timbe (right) vies for the ball with Comoros' Bachirou Fouad during their Africa Cup of Nations Group first round qualification match at Nyayo Stadium on May 18, 2014. Timbe was on target as Kenya drew 1-1 with Comoros in the return leg to sail through to the next round.
What you need to know:
- This result was enough for Harambee Stars to progress into the second round of the qualifiers, as the 1-0 first leg score accumulated in Nairobi a fortnight saw the visitors triumph 2-1 on aggregate.
- There was late drama in this contest, when Stars coach Adel Amrouche was sent off by the match officials for a possible altercation with 18 minutes of play.
- Lavatsa then found the side netting just after the restart before Kenya struck after he was set free by Omollo, Kenya's scorer of the first leg goal in Nairobi, before Timbe curled in from a freekick to give the visitors the lead.
Ayub Timbe scored a sublime free kick from an acute angle as Kenya settled for a 1-1 draw with Comoros Islands in a 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday.
This result was enough for Harambee Stars to progress into the second round of the qualifiers, as the 1-0 first leg score accumulated in Nairobi a fortnight saw the visitors triumph 2-1 on aggregate.
(READ: Stars labour to pip Comoros)
Belgium-based Timbe earned the free kick that resulted in the goal on 57 minutes after a foul by Ibrahim Rachedi stopped his mazy run towards the opponents' goal.
Stars were however pegged back seven minutes later as Amir Abdou's charges scored through Yacin Saandi's tap in, from a free flowing move that covered the whole length of the pitch.
AMROUCHE SENT-OFF
There was late drama in this contest, when Stars coach Adel Amrouche was sent off by the match officials for a possible altercation with 18 minutes of play.
Still, in scenes reminiscent of the tactician's dismissal in Nigeria last year, the Belgian had to be persuaded off the pitch and into the stands by his assistants Ken Odhiambo and James Nandwa, plus the team's technical director Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee.
Amrouche was forced into making three changes at the packed Mitsamihuli Stadium in Moroni from the team that started in the first leg, with Arnold Origi, Edwin Lavatsa and Francis Kahata making the starting eleven at the expense of Wilson Obung'u, Jamal Mohammed and Dennis Oliech.
The slow pace of this contest in the opening quarter of an hour seemed to work in favour of the Kenyans considering the reported humid conditions at the venue.
The visitors looked keen to repay the favour done by Abdou's team in the first leg tie at the Nyayo Stadium - employing a cautious approach with a strong five man midfield of Victor Wanyama, Johanna Omollo and David Ochieng' with Kahata and Timbe dropping back in intervals to provide support.
Origi went down injured and needed medical attention 25 minutes into the tie after an aerial collision with forward Yacine Saandi in what was the first real threat at either goal.
Lavatsa then ran out of space on the right hand side following a dribbling exchange of passes with Kahata before both teams retreated to the dressing room without a goal.
LAVATSA'S EFFORT
Lavatsa then found the side netting just after the restart after he was set free by Omollo - Kenya's scorer of the first leg goal in Nairobi - before Timbe curled in from the freekick to give the visitors the lead.
Origi was penalised for handling a back pass from Lawrence Olum moments later, but the Scandinavian based shot stopper redeemed himself by expertly stopping the resultant indirect free kick from inside the box.
Kenya will now await the winner of another first round duel between Lesotho and Liberia that is set to be decided in Maseru Saturday evening, for what promises to be a gruelling two-legged second round battle that begins on July 18.
The West Africans are leading 1-0 from the first leg tie played in Monrovia two weeks ago.
