FOOTBALL Olunga at the double as Harambee Stars dim Malawi Flames to set up Four Nations final with Zimbabwe

Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga scored twice as Kenya silenced Malawi with a 4-0 victory in Lilongwe to set up a clash with Zimbabwe in the Four Nations tournament final.

Michael Olunga made it four goals in his last two games for the national team as Kenya secured a 4-0 victory against hosts Malawi in the Four Nations Tournament in Lilongwe on Saturday evening.

No sooner had the match started than Harambee Stars were celebrating the opening goal after a swift run down the right by Daniel Ayembe saw him square the ball for Olunga to break the deadlock in the first minute.

Three minutes later, Kenya were running away with it when Olunga sealed his brace from the penalty spot, Malawi goalkeeper Brighton Munthali diving the right way, but not able to prevent the low shot from rolling into the net.

That saw Malawi coach Patrick Mabedi forced into an early tactical change with Lanjesi Nkhoma coming on to try and steady the ship.

His introduction saw the hosts start imposing themselves on the game with Nkhoma coming close to scoring twice.

The Nyasa Big Bullets man beat two of his markers before unleashing a low shot which Patrick Matasi in Kenya’s goal parried away for a corner and he was at it again a few minutes later when he capitalised on some sloppy passing from Kenya to test the Harambee Stars stopper yet again.

It was a warning shot for Kenya who had become casual by then with sloppy passes that allowed the Flames to easily gain possession and cause havoc.

Richard Odada, normally reliable in central midfield, was having a game to forget as he lost the ball with relative ease and also got bypassed without a struggle by his opponents.

Kenya were forced into square and back passes with Malawi pinning them back and struggled to get out of their half as the opening 45 minutes wore on.

Sensing danger, Stars coach Engin Firat made a change after halftime with Kenneth Muguna introduced for debutant Chrispine Erambo to bring some calmness in the middle of the park.

Kenya would start the second half as quickly as they began the first but there were no rewards this time as they could not get into the opposition box.

Malawi would keep pushing and got what appeared to be a route back with a questionable penalty call. Debutant Vincent Mahiga made a rash challenge in the box although the Malawian player appeared to be in an offside position and after some hesitation, the referee pointed to the spot.

Protests from Olunga and Johnstone Omurwa over the call earned them yellow cards but Kenya had poetic justice of some sort as Matasi stood strong to save Lloyd Aaron’s penalty and retain his side’s two-goal cushion.

Kenya then slowed down the game, opting to protect their lead in the final 15 minutes, but a third goal would arrive eight minutes from time.

Good work from Odada saw him beat two of his markers before unleashing a ferocious shot which hit one of the Malawi defenders with the loose ball falling to an unmarked Ayub Timbe who slotted home to put the result beyond doubt.

The goal saw a section of the home fans stream out of the stadium in disappointment but it was a good day for Firat’s men who saved the best for last.

Substitute John Avire, returning to the squad since the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, received the ball and sent home a 30-yard strike to kill off Malawi with the fourth goal as Kenya secured a third victory in nine meetings against the Flames.

The win sees Kenya set up a meeting with Zimbabwe in the final for a chance to claim the Four Nations tournament trophy on Tuesday March 26.