Cecafa: Harambee Stars held to a barren draw by Libya

CECAFA SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP-MACHAKOS Kenya's Masoud Juma(L) and Eltribi Ahmed of Libya battle for ball possession during the CECAFA senior challenge cup at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos on Tuesday 05/11/17.They draw 0-0[Boniface Okendo,Standard]

Libya deny Kenya perfect run, Ethiopia humiliates South Sudan 3-0

Harambee Stars drop points after 0-0 draw in their second match.

Hosts Kenya were frustrated to a barren draw by the Mediterranean Knights of Libya in their second Group A match of the ongoing Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos yesterday.

Libya had a first scoring opportunity through a free-kick in the third minute but captain Albadri Faisal's effort was cleared before George Odhiambo's shot was blocked by Shafshuf Suhib at the opposite end.

Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi was later forced to come off his line and deny Tubal Mohamed a scoring chance in the eighth minute. Kenyan strikers responded immediately, but Odhiambo was too casual with his effort as he allowed goalkeeper Azzaqah Ahmed an easy pick.

Three minutes later, Odhiambo saw his long range attempt miss the target before Almarymi Khalid's free header went slightly over. Kenya had a chance to break the deadlock in the 35th minute but Sofapaka's fullback Wesley Onguso ballooned his attempt at the edge of the box.

These are not the results Stars head coach Paul Put would have wished for, but he was happy with his charges' style of play.

"We expected better results than the one point, but I'm happy with how the boys played. We still have two matches ahead of the semis. We will recover," said Put.

The visitors were relentless in their quest as they chased the opener, but the hosts were more focused. Libyan defender Aljamal Tariq made a brilliant tackle to stop Chrispin Oduor from scoring at the near post after a superb delivery from Masoud Juma.

In an earlier match at the same venue, Zanzibar Heroes complicated Rwanda's qualification to the semi-finals after they defeated the Amavubi 3-1.

This was the second defeat for the Antoine Hey charges after they lost 2-0 to his former employer Kenya in the opening match in Kakamega on Sunday.

At the same venue yesterday, Ethiopia began on a winning note after they defeated South Sudan 3-0. However, Ethiopia wasted several chances in the first half as Abel Yalew failed to convert a cross from Dukele Dawa in the 10th minute.

However, he made amends for the costly miss with the first goal of the match in the 24th minute.

South Sudan's Peter Bentu failed to equalise in the 44th minute as the Ethiopians led 1-0 at halftime. 

In the second half, Ethiopia came back energised and hungry for more goals. It did not take long before Yalew scored his second in the 50th minute.

Seven minutes later, Abdela Sani added a third, leaving South Sudan fighting for their survival.