Kenyans held 3-3 by Italy: Hosts come from 2-0 down to draw in Nyayo Stadium duel

BY GILBERT WANDERA

Zottino Francesco of Iytaly (left) and Kenya’s Michael Kyalo during the friendly match at Nyayo Stadium, yesterday. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

The national Under-20 team drew 3-3 against their  visiting Italian counterparts in an exciting friendly match at Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday.

It was the visitors who settled quickly and took a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes. First Moreno Ricardo put his side ahead after combining well with Lenzini Cosimo in the ninth minute.

The second goal came exactly 11 minutes later and was from the penalty spot. Kenyan defender Vincent Mumbo brought down Nardi  Mattia forcing Fifa referee Davies Omweno to point to the spot.

From the spot, Zottino Fransesco scored the second goal for the visitors to put them firmly in command of the proceedings.

However, determined to get some respite before the break, the Kenyan side pulled one back ten minutes before the break when Thika United forward David Kimgatua found the back of the net after combining well with Timonah Wanyonyi.

On resumption, Victor Ndinya leveled the scores for the home team after being fed by Timonah Wanyonyi just four minutes after the restart.

The Italians went ahead almost immediately when Ricardo Morreno scored the third goal after finding his way past the Kenyan defense.

Kingatua then scored his second goal of the evening just after the hour mark and ensured that the home team got something from this fixture.

Kenyan goalkeeper Farouk Sikhalo was a busy man through-out the match and his first of the match came on the fifth minute when he came out to stop an advancing Zottino Franseco.

The miss resulted in the first corner kick for the visitors from which Danza Dejan hit the Kenyan cross bar.

It was always a matter of when the visitors would go ahead as they kept up the pressure on Kenya and were duly rewarded in the ninth minute.

second goal

The Italians should have been two goals up before the 20th minute had Danza Dejan converted his chance two minutes earlier when he displaced the Kenyan goalkeeper but failed to convert.

It was only after conceding the second goal that the home side made their presence felt.

At the half hour mark, Timonah Wanyonyi should have equalised but missed when his shot veered just wide of the goalmouth.

Two minutes later, the home side got their first corner and by the 35th minute had pulled one back and finished the first half on a high after Victor Ndinya failed to convert from a diving header.

Ndinya was again denied immediately on resumption as the Kenyans wen all out for an equalizer which came four minutes after the restart.

Coach John Kamau then rested Bernard Odhiambo and Herbat Opal for Meshack Muyonga and John Nairuka while the visitors brought on Malamacci Gernard for Marconi Kevin.

The changes were felt on both sides as the team’s scored a goal each to share the spoils.

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