The Citizen Reporter
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Kampala. Kilimanjaro Stars put themselves in the fix after losing their second Group C match 1-0 to Burundi at Namboole Stadium.The defeat means Stars tie with Sudan on three points, but the Kim Poulsen’s boys sit second thanks to their one goal advantage.Earlier, Sudan, who lost 2-0 to Kilimanjaro Stars on Sunday, revived their hopes with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Somalia.Stars kicked off the match brightly, however, it took them 10 minutes to register a decent shot on target.
John Bocco and Mrisho Ngassa enjoyed another impressive partnership with the latter crafting a host of chances for the Azam striker.In the 29th minute, Bocco outpaced his markers from the left flank before feeding Ngassa who blasted the ball wide from eight metres.Burundi responded in the 32nd minute and put Kili Stars goal under serious pressure, but could not break down the Stars defence marshaled by Kelvin Yondani and Shomari Kapombe.
Thereafter, Poulsen called Simon Msuva off for Amri Kiemba and the substitute’s impact was immediate as Stars came close to breaking the deadlock.
In the 41st minute, Kiemba drove a long-range shot that nearly beat goalie Arthur Arakaza, but the Burundian rose to the challenge to parry the ball away. The second half resumed with Stars picking from where they had left off, but their efforts were to no avail.
Burundi poured forward in the 52nd minute and Kapombe brought down Ndikumana in the area and the referee waved for a penalty, which the latter planted home deftly. Stars did not back down, they continued to send a series of shockwaves to the Burundi side, but Bocco, Ngassa and Kiemba could not convert the chances.
Kili Stars will wind up their group assignment with a date against Somalia who have already crashed out of the tournment.In the early game, Farid Mohammed’s goal in the 85th minute broke the hearts of a hard fighting Somalia side after they went down 1-0 at the Namboole Stadium in a Cecafa Tusker Senior Challenge Group B match.
This is Somalia’s second loss of the tournament after previously going down 5-1 to Burundi.
Somalia were a largely improved side from the team that was demolished by the Burundians in their opening match and they did well to contain the dangerous Sudan.
The Sudanese had their first chance of the match in the sixth minute. Faris Abdallah had a wonderful deliverance from a corner on the right. Mohammed El Murtada swung in a header at the near post, but Somali keeper Moalim Abdulahi punched away the ball for a corner.Fifteen minutes into the match, Somalia had their first shot on target with Mohammed Salah striking a free kick that was beautifully tipped over by keeper Abd El Rahman Ali.
Somalia ensured they had better ball possession as compared to their first match.
Ali Ahmed Ali and Said Mahammud were disciplined in defence and they did well to cover their keeper who did not have a busy afternoon.
The second half was more or less of the same see saw affair with both teams fighting hard for possession but not many chances created.Sudan came closest in the 65th minute with substitute Mohammed Osman hitting the crossbar after a lovely shot on the half turn.Somalia were resilient in their attack and they created more pace upfront but the cutting edge infront of goal always lacked.
They were made to pay five minutes from time when Mohammed Farid beat keeper Moalim at close range.
The loss means Somalia are practically out of the Championships while Sudan have to beat Burundi to be assured of a quarter final place.