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Kenya left it late to beat Qatar in their friendly match in Doha on Thursday evening
Joseph Okumu and Amos Nondi were the scorers as Harambee Stars secured a 2-1 win over Qatar in their friendly match in Doha on Thursday.
Stade de Reims defender Okumu scored Kenya’s first goal through a glancing header after 20 minutes before Hassan Al-Haydos cancelled it out 14 minutes later via a penalty following a foul in the box but Nondi secured the win with a late goal for Engin Firat’s men.
The match began at a high tempo with both sides intent on getting the early goal and the better chances fell to Kenya with captain Michael Olunga missing after being put through on goal with only the keeper to beat in the 13th minute.
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His strike partner Masoud Juma then came close but failed to beat the goalkeeper at his near post as Kenya continued to ask the early questions.
That was, however, after Anthony Akumu had been let off the hook after losing his marker before the Qatari fired just inches wide.
Kenya’s reward would arrive in the 20th minute when Okumu headed home from a corner, leaving Qatar goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham with no chance.
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The goal woke up the Qataris who threw numbers forward and they would get their reward 14 minutes later.
Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma got entangled with Qatar full-back Youself Abdelrazaq who went down under the challenge and the referee pointed to the spot. Firat and the rest of Kenya’s technical bench did not agree with the call and asked the match official to review the VAR but their pleas fell on deaf years.
Olunga also tried to plead the case for Kenya but the decision stood. Al-Haydos would step up to the spot and score.
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The scores remained 1-1 at halftime but the hosts began the second half better and should have gone ahead on three occasions.
Daniel Anyembe was forced to clear from the box before Okumu had to react quickly on two occasions to keep a goal-bound shot out.
Olunga then nearly scored an own goal a few minutes later but his miscued shot hit the post.
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Stars also had chances of their own, especially from the enterprising Ayub Timbe who injected great pace on the left side of Kenya’s attack after replacing Elvis Rupia at halftime.
He got into the box a number of times but could not score or find a well-placed team-mate to complete the moves.
With the scores headed for 1-1, Kenya had something up their sleeves as Olunga started a counter attack after getting onto a long ball from defence, sprinted into the box, before squaring for substitute Amos Nondi who scored the winner for Kenya.
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The Qataris wanted the goal overturned, claiming Timbe had committed a foul before the goal but the referee waved them off.
Stars will now look forward to their next match against South Sudan with a positive mindset and should be able to get a good result given their impressive display in Doha.
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