Laiser Hill leave it late to prevail over Green Palms

Metropolitan’s Laiser Hill striker Peter Kinyanjui scored at the death in their 2016 Airtel Rising Stars Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association national finals Group B match against Green Palms of Coast to earn a 2-1 victory in the last match of the opening day.

Palms took the after only two minutes courtesy of Zuberi Kazungu before John Macharia levelled for Laiser Hill nine minutes later.

It was an exciting end to end fixture, with the two teams fielding Harambee Stars Under-20 regulars.

Ayub Timbe’s younger brother Musa Masika was instrumental in Laiser’s midfield that had Macharia and Kinyanjui who have been called-up to the Under-20 side.

Palms keeper, Hassan Iddi, who plays for the junior side of Kenyan Premier League side, Ulinzi Stars having been signed from Bandari stood tall for his team between the posts and kept them in the game until the late heartbreak.

Speaking to Citizen Digital after the match, Palms coach Swaleh Abdalla exuded confidence his boys will go past the group stage.

“We have not given up, we should have won this but my strikers never grabbed the opportunities they got.  The loss means we have to win the two remaining matches to advance to the next round.

“I must admit the artificial turf affected my boys who have never played on it before. It is unfortunate there is no much time to prepare but they have to cope.”

His captain Hassan, the only form four student in the squad also rued their missed chances.

“We deserved to win and I feel our strikers should have worked harder. Laiser Hill is the team we came knowing will offer the toughest challenge so tomorrow (Wednesday) we should have a better outing,” he added.

In matches played earlier, Highlands Region’s football champions Kathungi Boys beat Cheptenye Boys of Mau 2-0 to go top of Group A alongside Friends Bukembe Boys.

Rashid Leja and Hamisi Salim scored in the 12th and 60th, to finish the day above Lake Region’s champions Barding who beat Bukembe 2-1 in the opener on goal difference at Kisumu Moi Stadium.

Passenga Boys thrashed Northern Region’s Saburlei 3-0 across town in Kisumu Boys in the other Group B match.

In Girl’s football, Nyakatch of Lake Region humbled Highland’s Kirigara 4-0 in a one sided match at the same venue.

Mercy Airo opened the scores for the Lakeside beauties in the 12th minute, before Velma Juma netting the second just before the break.

Kirigara’s Deborah Njanjarin scored in her own net in the while Cynthia Akinyi sealed the win in the 74th.

It took Kirigara’s custodian Annastacia Kawira heroics to save her team from a running in a cricket score.

Wiyeta mauled Itigo Girls 5-0 as Olympic slumbed 2-0 to Nginda before St. John’s Kaloleni prevailed 2-0 over Sindo.