Olunga gem not enough as ten-man Stars sink in Sierra Leone

The national team Harambee Stars began their Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers with a 2-1 defeat at Sierra Leone on Saturday.

On a night of contested calls from the center referee at the Siaka Sevens Stadium in Freetown, Michael Olunga struck a beautiful goal late on after Julius Wobay and Umaru Bangura had put the hosts in the control seat.

First Coach Stanley Okumbi’s men played the better part with a one man disadvantage following the dismissal of Brian Mandela in the 42nd minute.

The two sides employed a rather open approach right from the whistle and it is Kenyan international Ayub Timbe that created the first chance of the match.

The exciting Beijing Renhe winger whipped in a cross from the right flank but his effort was too high for Olunga but it veered to Eric Johanna on the opposite flank.

The Sweden-based midfielder found teammate Eric Ouma who was in a better position to cross but his ball was too low and it was turned away.

Moments later Stars captain Victor Wanyama was fouled just outside the Sierra Leone goal with Timbe’s resultant free-kick headed clear. Olunga was on hand to pick up the lose ball and force it down the opposition box.

It found Masoud Juma whose first touch put only the goalkeeper between himself and the post but he shot straight at him to squander the best chance of the first half.

The absence of Olunga’s regular pair upfront Jesse Were had paved way for Juma’s first cap with the national team and the Kariobangi Sharks striker will hate to remember this moment.

Wobay showed Juma how it’s done on the other end when he raced on to meet a nice pull-back and guide it past keeper Boniface Oluoch.

The Kenyans should have drawn level minutes later when Wanyama headed over from Johanna’s cross. Wanyama once again combined with Johanna just minutes later as Stars threatened.

The Tottenham midfielder poked at goal from Johanna’s squared ball but the keeper parried on to the path of Olunga who slammed it against the underside of the crossbar.

The resultant rebound was headed out of danger.

Things worsened when Okumbi’s men went from a goal down to a man down as Mandela was given the marching orders for a tackle on striker Alhassan Kamara who was through on goal.

At the restart, Okumbi introduced David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng in place of Juma as he sought to reinforce his backline. Stars’ woes were compounded when Ouma gave away a penalty for hacking down striker Kei Kamara inside the box.

Captain Bangura stepped up and converted it t give his side a comfortable two-goal cushion.

Stars however found late hope when Olunga curled in a delightful free-kick but in the end it only counted as a consolation goal.