Mainland`s Kilimanjaro Stars bowed out of the Senior Challenge Cup when they were hit 2-1 by Kenya`s Harambee Stars in the semi final match played at Nakivubo Stadium yesterday.
Harambee Stars scored their first goal in the 18th minute through Francis Ouma before Mike Baraza added the second, two minutes later.
The two quick goals confused Stars before they recovered in the 78th minute when Danny Mrwanda used well a Mrisho Ngassa pass to register the lone goal.
The team trained by Marcio Maximo fought in the last minutes to level when the likes of Mrisho Ngassa, Athumani Iddi, Mrwanda and Haruna Moshi made several attempts which bore no fruits.
Stars dependable defender Salum Sued was awarded a red card in the 80th minute by a Somali referee when he roughed striker Kevin Ochieng’.
Sued is the second Stars` player to eran a red card. Kelvin Yondan who missed yesterday`s game was also awarded the card when the team played Uganda Cranes in a Group `A’ match last Friday.
Maximo said his team lost because he missed three key players in the match, Yondani, Shadrack Nsajigwa and Meshack Abel. Nsajigwa missed the match because he had two yellow cards while Abel is suffering from malaria.
Kilimanjaro Stars will now vie for the third place with losers of the second semi which was expected to pit Uganda Cranes and Burundi last evening.
Harambee Stars will play winners of the second semi in the final tomorrow.
Teams:
Kilimanjaro Stars:
Shaban Dihile, Nurdin Bakari, Juma Jabu, Shabani Nditi/Kigi Makasi (33rd min), Salum Sued, Geofrey Bonny, Mrisho Ngassa, Henry Joseph, Danny Mrwanda, Haruna Moshi and Athumani Iddi.
Harambee Stars: Duncan Ochieng, George Owino, Edgar Ochieng, Joseph Shikikoti, Oshorne Monday, Francis Ouma, Kevin Ochieng, Mulinge Ndeto, Mike Baraza, Joseph, Njuguna.
- SOURCE: Guardian
