Guard of honour as gritty Ulinzi Stars beat Libya's Al Hilal via Mbongi's sudden-death penalty in CAF Confederations Cup

ULINZI STARS v AL HILAL BENGHAZI Omar Mbongi of Ulinzi Stars FC celebrates scoring the winning penalty against Al Hilal during their CAF Confederation Cup return leg match at Safaricom stadium Kasarani in Nairobi, Kenya on February 18, 2017. Ulinzi Stars FC won 5-4 on post match penalties. Photo/Stafford Ondego/www.sportpicha.com

Ulinzi Stars needed post-match penalties to edge out Libyan side Al Hilal Benghazi 5-4 and make it to the first round of the Confederations Cup at Kasarani yesterday.

The match ended 1-1 on aggregate, sending it into penalties.

Both teams scored four penalties with Ulinzi Stars scoring through Oscar Wamalwa, Baron Oketch, Samuel Onyango and John Makwata while Enosh Ochieng missed.

The visitors scored through Amhimmid Ahmed, Air Sarogo, Shaban Mbarak and Abdallah Alshaafi. James Saruni blocked Said Alwaji’s penalty.

In sudden-death spot-kicks, Omar Bongi netted for the Kenyan soldiers, but Esam Alamshi hit the post to ensure the home team went through.

Coming into yesterday’s fixture, Ulinzi Stars were trailing 1-0 and it took them just 17 minutes to get back level after Samuel Onyango scored.

The goal came from a well orchestrated move in midfield when Onyango was picked out by Boniface Onyango.

The goal-scorer easily shook off his marker Hashim Alshareef before placing the ball beyond Murad Alwaheeshi in the Al Hilal Benghazi goal.

It was a slow-paced match with no clear cut chances from either side. The visitors enjoying a slim lead from the first leg, looked the better side as soon as both teams settled.

Eager to hung onto their first leg lead, the visitors pushed harder and had the soldiers on the back foot, but never really created any clear cut chances.

In the 10th minute Ulinzi’s counter-attack was cut short by Ali Alsharaf but he used his hands and was duly booked.

By this time, the soldiers had settled and kept knocking at their opponent’s door. Ulinzi forward line of Daniel Waweru, Evans Amuoka and John Makwata looked in haste to score and were often off target.

Amuoka had a perfect opportunity to score in the 39th minute, but seemed not to have anticipated that the Al Hilal Bengazi goalkeeper would come out so quickly to deny him a scoring opportunity.

Ulinzi Stars rested Evans Amuoka for Enosh Ochieng as soon as the second half kicked off hoping it would help them get a second goal.

Inspired by the change, the soldiers continued to press upfront, but it was a tale of missed chances. Ulinzi’s John Kago was cautioned for rough play mid way in the second half as desperation set in.

Makwata’s curled shot was stopped by the Benghazi goalkeeper with three minutes remaining on the clock.