Harambee Starlets Juniors were on riot yesterday as they hosted Ethiopia moving themselves a step to the prestigious World Cup Women under 17 years Tournament. The Starlets won the match by a 3-0 scoreline after a barren raw away in Ethiopia.
The Starlets had held the Ethiopians to a 0-0 draw away in Ethiopia and needed just a goal to proceed to the last qualification match and head into the World Cup. Staged at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, the match had received a good heap of hype with football lovers vowing to attend to the match and cheer the little girls and true to word they came in good numbers and right from the start whistle of the match they were chanting in support of the girls. The support seemed to be working as it helped the girls settle in the match at very short time and now they were taking the attacks to the Ethiopians who seemed technically well trained.
The Coach Mildread Cheche side had resolve to attacking from the flanks where the midfielder was sending the balls to the offensives who would then cross the balls into the 18 yard box as well as to dribble , cut in and shoot. The Ethiopians tried so much to defend well and they looked to have mastered how and this helped them while the Starlets missed some clear opportunities. On the other hand, the starlets were pressing high leaving the Ethiopians no room to build their play. Towards the end of the first half the starlets forced the Ethiopians into committing a corner kick which was well let it and with one minute to close the first half, Elizabeth Ochaka hit it inside the net by a header sending the match to break with the starlets leading.
Back into the second half, Velma Awuor exercised individual brilliance at the 55th minute as se dribbled past an Ethiopian and let out a shot outside the box into the net with the goal keeper only left with no option other than bring the ball from the net into the center of the pitch for a restart. At the 70th minute, Lona Faith seemed to have studied the goal keeper well as she also let in another shot away from the box and to surprise it got the goal keeper unawares as it dropped right into the net for a third goal.
FULL TIME ; KENYA 3:0 ETHIOPIA
Harambee Starlets will now play Burundi in the final stage as they look forward to qualifying for the World Cup which will be played later this year.