Late Namibia goal dims Stars in Windhoek

COURTESY OF CHARLES NYENDE/NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kenya’s Harambee Stars fell to a late goal against Namibia at the Windhoek Independence Stadium Saturday, to lose 1-2 in their opening Group Two match of the World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Kenyan defence failed to clear a cross from the dangerous Oliver Risser and Costa Khaiseb was there to slam the ball home with 90 minutes on the clock.

Risser had given the hosts an early lead 13 minutes into the match when he collected a cross the Kenyan defence could not deal with to plant the ball home.

Austine Makacha, who had a fine game, had equalised for Kenya from a header five minutes before the break.

The game looked destined for a draw with both teams having cancelled out each other but for a moment of lost concentration in the Kenya defence that gave Namibia all the three points.

Harambee Stars will be unhappy with the results having created several opportunities.

They looked the more enterprising team particularly in the first have but when they lost Dennis Oliech, through injury, midway through the second half the plot appeared to get lost.

Kenya started the game cautiously, happy to keep possession and breaking when the opportunity presented itself with Oliech particularly dangerous.

But it was Namibia who opened the scoring in the 13th munute when the Kenya defence allowed a high ball into the box.

Hannover 96 player Oliver Risser was there to punish the visitors, sweetly chesting the ball to beat Arnold Origo with a hard shot.

Kenya had no option but to push forward.

Oliech should have restored parity in the 16th minute but saw his left footed tap on from a long cross from the right agonizing close with the Namibia keeper stranded.

Namibia survived another scare when Robert Mambo headed Kevin Ochieng’s corner against the upright in the 31st minute.

In the other group fixture, Zimbabwe held hosts Guinea to a scoreless draw in Conakry on Sunday.

Kenya host Guinea in Nairobi on Saturday 7th June, a match they must win to kick start their World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations 2010 campaign.

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