STARLETS IN FINAL: Kenya beat Ethiopia, to face Tanzania at Cecafa tourney

CECAFA SENIOR WOMEN CHAMPIONSHIP IN JINJA UGANDA Kenya Harambee Starlets Esse Akida(L) and Losa Abera of Ethiopia battle for ball possession during their Cecafa senior women Championship semi finals in Jinja opn Sunday 18/09/16.PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

The national women’s football team, Harambee Starlets, came from behind to defeat Ethiopia 3-2 in a hotly contested semi-final match of the Cecafa Women Championship in Jinja, Uganda.

Kenya will face Tanzania, who beat Uganda 4-1 in the other semi final.

Neddy Atieno scored a brace to take her goal tally to four with Carolyne Anyango adding Kenya’s third. Ethiopia’s Losa Abera scored a brace as she also took her tally to four at the tournament.

Abera opened the scores in the 37th minute to give Ethiopia the halftime lead, but Kenya replied in the second half with Atieno equalising in the 54th minute from a solo effort.

Atieno’s fine finish in the 65th minute gave Kenya the lead before Anyango headed a third in the 75th minute to make matters 3-1.

Ethiopia the rallied, replying through Abera’s superb finish from the six yard area when Kenya’s defence was caught napping in the 84th minute.

Coach David Ouma made several changes to his squad, restoring Ann Aluoch, Wendy Achieng, Carolyne Anyango and Cheris Avilia who did not feature in Harambee Starlets resounding 11-0 win in their last Group A preliminary match against Zanzibar on Thursday evening.

Neddy Atieno, Esse Akida and Mary Kinuthia who came in as substitutes in the second half in the Zanzibar tie also returned to the starting lineup.

Ethiopia’s coach Mezeret Manni did not change her starting line-up that settled for a barren draw against Tanzania in their last Group B preliminary match on Friday.

Commenting on the performance after the brace, Atieno said work hard and patience contributed to the win.

“I feel good and I commend the whole team for the good team spirit we had in that match. It wasn’t an easy match but my team mates continued motivating me especially the first goal which I scored from individual effort. We played as per the instructions and we deserved to win the match,” Atieno told Feverpitch.

Kenya started on a high forcing Ethiopia to concede a corner kick in the first minute and was taken by Esse Akida but nobody was in the box to attack the ball.

Ethiopia replied immediately with winger Shetaye Sisaya coming in with a hard shot that went wide for a goal kick.

Ethiopia pressed on, but were not able to go past a compact Starlets’ defence. Ethiopia dominated the better part of the first half especially in the midfield and their efforts were rewarded as Abera slotted home an opener.

Kenya was forced to make a double change with Doreen Nabwire and Cheris Avilia coming in for Elizabeth Ambogo and Corazon Aquino respectively with five minutes to the end of the first half.

Kenya came back stronger in the second half and their efforts were rewarded as they scored three goals to book the final slot.