Kenya outshine Taifa Stars in Cairo

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Jun 27, 2019. 23:46

Kenya kept their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations alive with a 3-2 comeback win over Tanzania at 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Thursday evening.

The Harambee Stars fell behind on two occasions, but would mount a second-half comeback to claim all three points and bragging rights over their East African opponents.

Victory moves Kenya level on points with Senegal in Group C. They face the Teranga Lions at the same venue on Monday.

Tanzania opened the scoring as early as the sixth minute. Patrick Matasi could only succeed in spilling Mbwana Samatta's shot into the path of the onrushing Simon Msuva who duly prodded home from close range.

Kenya levelled matters for the first time on the night in the 39th minute following a goalkeeping howler from Aishi Manula. The Taifa Stars shot-stopper dropped the ball onto his own player who unwillingly teed up Michael Olunga for an acrobatic bicycle-kick finish.

Tanzania regained their lead, though, seconds later through a solo effort from Samatta. The Taifa Stars captain showed great tenacity in fending off multiple defenders before firing home to give his team the lead at the break.

Kenya emerged from the tunnel a different team and took control of the game in build-up to Johanna Omolo's 62nd minute equaliser.

Olunga completed the comeback win with an 80th minute rocket that clipped the inside of the post on it's way into the back of the net as Kenya now set their sights on a wounded Teranga Lions unit.

Kenya (1) 3 (Olunga 39' 80' Omolo 62')
Tanzania (2) 2 (Msuva 6' Samatta 41')

Kenya: Matasi; Okumu, Omar (Omondi 68'), Mohammed, Masika, Omolo, Kahata (Avire 33'), Wanyama, Ouma, Owino (Ochieng 46'), Olunga.

Tanzania: Manula; Kamagi, Nyoni (Domayo 80'), Yondani, Mwantika, Ulimwengu (Bocco 70'), Msuva, Mussa, Ramadan, Abbas (Mkami 52'), Samatta.