Harambee Starlets progress after crushing Malawi

The national women’s football team Harambee Starlets crushed Malawi 3-0 to complete a 5-3 aggregate victory that put them through to the third round of the 2020 Olympic Qualifiers on Sunday.

Starlets had lost 3-2 away in Blantyre and needed a clinical performance to overturn the deficit, which they did at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos with Mwanalima Adam scoring twice to star in the show.

Cynthia Shilwatso opened the scoring in the first half which left the aggregate scoreline at 3-3 and Starlets progressing on away goal rules and Adam struck twice after the restart to put their progression beyond doubt.

Her double included a spectacular solo effort in which she dribbled past two defenders and rounded the goalkeeper to score after she had been put through by Shilwatso.

“My players showed they are a strong team, they followed instructions and it was not easy for Malawi to win here. We are ready for next round and we hope for the best,” Starlets head coach David Ouma said after the match.

His Malawi counterpart Abel Mkandawire was gracious in the defeat, acknowledging that Kenya had been the stronger side on the day.

“Kenya has a strong team and they utilized their home advantage that’s why they scored those three goals,” Mkandawire said.

Kenya will face either Ghana or Gabon in the third round.