Charles Nyende
8 June 2008
Nairobi — Dennis Oliech got back onto the international scoring list with a might roar grabbing two goals and hitting the post once to inspire Harambee Stars to a 2-0 win against fancied Guinea in a Group Two World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday.
Oliech struck with precision either side of the half from deadly counter attacking by Kenya to stun the Guineans and an overflowing crowd at Nyayo that included the Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Harambee Stars had a chance to add insult to injury on the Syli Nationale in time added on but Austine Makacha was denied by keeper Kemoko Camara from point blank range when scoring looked the most likely outcome. The fine match was however marred by serious security lapses from the organizers. Fans filled the stadium beyond its carrying capacity of 35,000.
The situation was exacerbated when impatient spectators broke through one of the entry gates to the stadium to fill out on the perimeter fence promoting concern from the Fifa security official, Amri Shaheen, who could be seen pacing up the boundary and taking pictures.
Shifted up gears
During all this time there was little presence of uniformed police or security and it came as little surprise when fans invaded the pitch after the final whistle was blown to mob the players. Thankfully, no injury or ugly scenes were reported.
This did not take away a good victory for Harambee Stars who now temporarily take over the leadership of the group with three points from two matches. The lead will change today when Namibia, who are tied on points with Stars but have scored less goals face one point Zimbabwe.
Kenya were in desperate need of a win and they could not have asked for a better start when Oliech opened the scoring in the third minute.
Makacha sent a long punt up field for Oliech to race for. The Auxerre forward shifted up several gears to get beyond chasing Ouamar Kalabane and Bobo Baldo to coolly beat Camara. Two minutes later the outstanding Macdonald Mariga tested Camara with a free kick from just outside the box as the home team searched for a second.
Untroubled defence
But Guinea, after conceding the early goal, began pressing forward in earnest. Origi was called to action in succession, holding onto Karba Bangoura's long range effort and again showing hawk eyes to keep Ismael Bangoura out.
Origi was again at the right place to deny Balde, after the giant Celtic defender had risen above the Kenyan defence to claim a header from a corner kick.
Pascal Feindouno, who saw most of the ball for Guinea in midfield, floated a clever free kick into the area but Kalabane, who got on the end of it, kept his head out with Origi looking beaten in the 40th minute.
The Guineans continued to press and on the 45th minute, completed opened an otherwise untroubled Kenya defence but Ismael Bangoura, alone with Origi, fired wide.
It was easily Guinea's best chance of the match. Guinea continued to dominate possession in the second half with Kenya happy to sit back and catch them on the counter.
The strategy worked for Stars in the 49th minute, Oboya picking up the ball from just outside his 18 meter box to charge at enemy territory before feeding Oliech, who showed good composure to guide the ball to the far corner under pressure from Bobo.
Oliech almost got a hat trick but his screamer from outside the area thudded off the upright in the 68th minute. Five minutes earlier the unlucky Ismael Bangoura had hit the upright to sum up the day for the Syli Nationale. Even Makacha's fluffed sitter in the 91st minute could not dampen a deserved victory for the Stars.
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