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15 June 2008
By Charles Nyende (from Nyayo Stadium)
Kenya battled to a hard fought 2-0 win against rugged Zimbabwe in a World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at a packed Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday. Guinea beat hosts Namibia 2-1 to see Kenya top the group.
Macdonald Mariga’s vicious strike early in the first half and Dennis Oliech’s opportunistic finish late in the second half was enough to secure Kenya three precious points that hauled them to the top of Group Two.
But the victory proved an expensive one for Kenya after Macdonald Mariga and Arnold Origi were carried of the pitch injured. Origi’s injury particularly looked serious after he was rushed to hospital in an ambulance with a suspected fracture.
“This was a great win for us. We really fought hard for the victory and I want to thank the boys for playing their hearts out against such strong opposition,” captain Robert Mambo said.
Kenya started the brighter of the two teams spraying some nice passes together to mighty roars from the bursting stands. Three quick corners showed the home team’s surge and from the fourth corner they got their opener.
Mariga beat Zimbabwe goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro on the near post with a rasping shot after he had played a short corner to Titus Mulama in the 12th minute. Oliech, watched most evening by the Zimbabwe defence, found space to lobe the ball to Robert Mambo who just failed to make contact in the 19th minute.
Two minutes later it was the turn of Patrick Oboya to threaten, skipping two tackles to test Murambadoro. But Zimbabwe gradually began to get back into the game and got their first attempt at goal when Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari blasted over the bar in the 23rd minute. Mwaruwari was at it again a minute later turning well on the 18 meter line but Origi was sure with his hands.
The Warriors continued to press but just could not get past a valiant Kenya back four with George Owino and Edgar Ochieng impressive walls. Origi was also in inspired form giving Kenya’s last line of defence a save pair of hands. He brilliantly kept out Cephas Chimedza’s excellent free kick in the 39th minute. In the 52nd minute Origi was on hand to again keep out another excellent free kick, this time from Esrom Nyandoro.
The game was now all Zimbabwe with Kenya desperately holding on to their slim lead. Kenya appeared to on the rails when Mariga was removed after receiving a knock. But the entry of Osborn Monday and Allan Wange give the team new live. Oliech should have doubled the score in the 75th minute but his shot from a Monday assist was parried away for a corner.
Monday had a minute earlier seen his corner pushed back into play by the keeper. Oliech then got behind the Harignton Shereni but was kept out from close range by Murambadoro. But the Auxerre striker’s goal duly came in the 88th minute when he pounced on a loose ball after Murambadoro had failed to hold on to Wanga’s drive from a storming 30 metre run.-Kenya Sunday Nation.
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