Harambee Stars knocked out of Africa Nations Championships after 0-0 draw against Ethiopia
Football
By
Gilbert Wandera
| Jul 04, 2015
Kenyan coach Bobby Williamson was left disappointed after his side bowed out of the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) qualifiers when the drew 0-0 with Ethiopia at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
Ethiopia went through by virtue of having won the first leg 2-0 at home last weekend.
"This was a very disappointing result for us considering that once again we lost a penalty. Had we scored a penalty in Ethiopia and today, we should have qualified for the next round," he said.
Gor Mahia midfielder Ali Abondo failed to score from the penalty spot in the 61st minute adding onto the frustrations of the home fans.
The fans let out their frustrations with chants of Nyamweya must go ! Just before and after the match ended.
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The visitors were quick on the ball and set up a high tempo that at first proved too much for the Kenyans.
Gor Mahia defender Haroun Shakava was booked at the quarter mark for bringing down an opponent who was going to score.
The first opportunity for Stars came after twenty minutes when Humprey Mieno was brought down at the edge of the Ethiopian box. Collins Okoth took the resultant free kick but it was badly taken and hit the visitor's wall and ended up at the feet of Ali Abondo. The Kenyan midfielder was ruled off side even before he kicked the ball.
Before that, Ramkel Lok had been allowed to sneak past the Kenyan backline and it took Boniface Oluoch coming out to deny him a goal scoring opportunity.
Another opportunity for Stars came in the 22nd minute. Ali Abondo's well taken free kick was punched out by Gatenet Alemu as the home side took an upper hand in the match.
As Kenyan piled pressure, their opponents preferred to stay behind and opting for counter attacks and long balls.
Ephrem Ashamo's surprise long shot in the 25th minute forced a save from Boniface Oluoch.
The Ethiopian backline did a good job to mark out Kenyan marks man Michael Olunga though the Gor Mahia striker still found room to create problems for them. His attempt in the 35th minute gave Kenya the first corner in the match while his second went direct to the Ethiopian goalkeeper.
It was the visitors who should have killed off the game in the dying minutes of the first half when Behali Aseffa missed to score from a counter attack.
Ethiopia started the second half well and Ramkel Lok should have scored the opening goal right at the start but great goalkeeping by Boniface Oluoch ensured it did not happen.
The next ten minutes saw both sides create chances but did not get anything from it. Ali Abondo found himself unmarked a few inches from the Ethiopian goal but his shot was too weak to disturb the Ethiopian goalie. Then Olunga forced a fingertip save from the Ethiopian goalkeeper earning Kenya their second corner. In the 61st minute Kenya had a chance to reduce the deficit but Ali Abondo failed to score from the penalty spot with his shot hitting the post. Even then the Ethiopian goalkeeper had dived the right way.
Abondo was pulled off from the pitch after that miss and his position taken by Danson Kago. However, the change did not make any difference as the Stars's attacking front remained blunt.