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Harambee Stars went out of Cecafa tournament after losing 5-3 on penalties to Rwanda on Tuesday. The match ended in a barren draw after full time. Fiston Munerezo, Djihad Bizimana, Faustine Usengimana, Dominique Savio and Abdul Rwatubyaye scored for Rwanda while David Owino, Noah Abich and Jesse Were scored for Kenya with Eric Johanna failing to score.
Kenya started strongly with Jacob Keli forcing Eric Ndayishimiye in Rwanda’s goal to a first minute save. By the fifth minute, Kenya had forced four corners with Michael Olunga coming close on at least two occasions. But the Rwandese hit back in the sixth minute with Boniface Oluoch being forced to put out a point blank range shot by dangerman Jean Baptiste. Another corner just before the tenth minute proved Kenya’s dominance in the opening matches of the match.
Then Boniface Oluoch denied Baptiste in the 10th minute handing Rwanda their first corner of the match. After that Olunga watched in disbelief as his goal bound shot went just wide. It was getting frustrating for the big man, who has not scored in two matches and one minute after failing to score he found himself booked for handling the ball.
The Kenyan players unable to break into the Rwandese backline opted for long shots. First Cliftone Miheso attempted at the 20th minute before Anthony Akumu’s effort went across the opponents’ goal-line. Both Jacob Keli and Eric Johanna also had chances to shoot at goal. In between the Kenyan attacks, Yussuffu Habimana forced a save from Boniface Oluoch in the Kenyan goal but it was Michael Olunga, who finished the first half for Kenya on a high but failed to connect with a bicycle-kick. Coming into the second half, Kenya continued to push and Noah Abich’s delivery to Olunga just failed to reach its target.
Then Eric Johanna threatened with a long free kick but it was well cleared. Rwanda’s first chance in the half came five minutes after resumption but Jacques Tusiyenge was denied by Boniface Oluoch. It was still Kenya, who had an upper hand as Olunga stayed upfront giving his markers trouble but no team found the back of the net forcing the match to be decided on post-match penalties.
