Kenya’s Harambee Stars beaten in Cape Verde

PRAIA, CAPE VERDE: Heldon Ramos struck twice as Cape Verde beat Kenya 2-0 in the Fifa 2018 World Cup second leg match in Praia.

After soaking up considerable pressure, abetted in part by windy conditions inside the Estadio National do Cabo Verde, Heldon Ramos’ free-kick caused mayhem in Harambee Stars goal as it bounced over the Kenyan defenders and into the net for the opening goal. Heldon then emphatically swept in his second on 52 minutes following a nice cut back from Djaniny to help Cape Verde into the group stages of the 2018 Fifa World Cup with a 2-1 aggregate win. After an impressive 1-0 win over the rising power house in African football in Nairobi on Friday, hope of an unlikely aggregate win swept across Kenya ahead of the return leg in the Atlantic Ocean country. But shambolic travel arrangements that have degenerated into a blame game between Football Kenya Federation and the Ministry of Sports contrived to ensure the team endured a 15-hour flight with close to an hour of stoppages in Kampala, Uganda, Kano (Nigeria) and Dakar (Senegal) before finally landing in Cape Verde. And, perhaps eager to take advantage of Kenya’s late arrival after bungled travel arrangements saw Harambee Stars arrive in Praia less than three hours to kick off, the Blue Sharks got off the blocks pretty fast. The visibly weary visitors had the crossbar to thank just after kick off as Djaniny headed against the woodwork. The hosts ensured Kenya’s goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch busier custodian as the Gor Mahia man came to the rescue of Kenya spreading himself to block Tiago Miguel Almeida’s point blank attempt for a fruitless corner just after 10 min. The Cape Verdians hurried and hustled the Kenya Heldon went close in the 13th minute after a dicey cross from 13. Oluoch came off his line on 15 minutes to punch away a dangerous looking cross as Heldon bore down on goal. Odair Fortes lined up to have a pot-shot at the Kenyan goal. He went close, but Oluoch had done well to cover his closest goalpost as the ball flashed past the upright. Kenya appeared to keep their hosts at an arm’s length well into stoppage time of the first half. But a dicey free-kick into the Kenyan defence caused mayhem as Heldon’s attempt was headed into the roof of the net by David Owino. If Cape Verde’s opening goal was fortuitous, the second was well crafted as Djaniny wriggled his way in from the left channel to set up Heldon to finish with aplomb. Kenyan coach Bobby Williamson then decided to through into the fray all his available attackers bring in Jacob Keli, Jesse Were and Christian Bwamy. The move appeared to unsettle Cape Verde as the trio, in for Kevin Kimani, Collins Okoth and as Kenya pushed an away goal. For all their grit in the second half nothing by way of a goal was not forthcoming with Keli seeing a half a chance snuffed out by goalkeeper Vozinha when he attempted to chest down the ball. In the end, Cape Verde were good value for their win to advance to the group stages of the Fifa 2018 World Cup.