Harambee Stars U20 thrash Zimbabwe to register first win in Malawi

Harambee Stars U20 team kicked off their campaign in Malawi by registering an important win against Zimbabwe.

The Rising Stars which bossed the game from the first minute thrashed their arch-rivals 3-1 to get an early advantage in the tournament.

A first-half brace from Elly Owande and a second-half goal from Hassan Beja were enough to sink the Southern African nation.

Owande gave Kenya the lead in the ninth minute following a low left-footed strike which went past Zimbabwe's goalkeeper.

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Zimbabwe was forced to make an early goalkeeping change after Kaunda was stretchered off after failing to stop Owande's effort, Chikowero Tatenda replacing the injured Kaunda.

Owande, who plays for Migori Youth, scored his second of the match in the 30th minute through a solo effort that found the roof of the net exerting Rising Stars' dominance in the game played at the Silver Stadium in Lilongwe.

Captain Stanley Wilson then pulled a heroic block in the 32nd minute to deny Zimbabwe's side which was threatening to get back in the game.

Kenya’s Rising Stars, who played without head coach Salim Babu left behind in Nairobi due travel documents hitch, however, managed to contain the pressure as they led 2-0 at half time.

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The Simon Marange-coached side looked promising in the second half but Beja dimmed Zimbabwe's hopes by converting Timothy Ouma's cross to extend Kenya's lead.

Zimbabwe pulled one back in the 82nd minute following confusion in the Rising Stars' defensive area. Issa Emuria, Ulinzi goalkeeper who was outstanding throughout the game, failed to keep out a close-range shot from Denzel Mapua.

Reacting to the loss, Marange noted that his side did not utilize the opportunities created in the first half. However, he noted that it was a learning experience for his boys.

"I think it was a difficult game from a physicality perspective. I think you could see the difference in size and all of that, but I think we managed to do the things that we wanted to see," Marange stated.

"In the first half we created some good chances that we didn't take but they took the chances and they were more mature than us," he added.

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Akhulia on the other side praised the team for securing the win against a tough opponent. Akhulia, who is stepping in for Salim Babu, insisted that he would build from the results in their next game.

"It was a very difficult match but again I congratulate the boys because they have done a very good job for us bearing in mind that we have played a team we have not watched," he stated.

"In the next game, we are playing the hosts and I'm pretty sure it not going to be an easy match for us. But we hope the boys will do a better job and try to win us the match," he insisted.

Rising Stars' next match will be against Malawi on Sunday, March 24, which will be held at the Bingu National Stadium. 

The number of participating teams was reduced to three after Zambia, the highest-ranked team, pulled out of the tournament.

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