Harambee Starlets glorious 4-0 triumph over Burundi propelled Kenya into the semi-final round of the CECAFA women’s Championship at the Technical Institute Njeru in Jinja, Uganda, Monday.
Kenya international Neddy Atieno scored a brace to place the national women’s football team at the top of pool “A” with six points.
They automatically qualified for the semis set for Sunday, September 18 with a match to spare against Zanzibar on Thursday.
Team coach David Ouma did not tinker with the squad that beat Uganda 4-0 in the tournament opener on Sunday and the Kenyans rose to the occasion.
Both Kenya and Burundi came into the fixture buoyed by first game wins, but it was the Kenyans side who showed the bigger hunger in the race to top pool “A”.
It was no surprise when the first chance fell to the Kenyans in the fourth minute when Neddy Atieno received a pass from Esse Akida but she shot wide.
The super combination of Akida, Mary Kinuthia and Atieno was evident as they continued to press their opponents and their early efforts nearly paid off in the eighth minute but Kinuthia’s long range range which found the net was ruled off side.
Eventually Burundi begun to make inroads into the Kenyan territory and in the 11th minute Aziz Misigyimana escaped the Kenya defence to leave her with only Kenya goalkeeper Vivian Akinyi left to beat, but she shot straight into the waiting hands of Akinyi.
Akida who scored a brace against Uganda continued to be a threat to the side coached by Daniella Niyibimenya but her “goal” in the 14th minute was also ruled off side .
After hits and misses in the first 25 minutes of play, Atieno atoned for her earlier blunders by opening the floodgate of goals. She scored in the 29th minute, before Kinuthia added another three minutes later.
In the 35 th minute, Notia Saidatte came in for the limping Drone Irandukunda as Kenya continued to press and the efforts paid off as Akida scored in the 45th minute going into the breather.
After the change of ends the script stayed the same. Atieno scored barely seconds into the second half give Kenya
a commanding 4-0 lead.
In the 67th minute, coach Ouma gave the goalscoring trio a rest, calling in Jacky Ogol for Carolyne Onyango, Akida for Christine Nafula while Vivian Corazon came in for Atieno who ensured the game ended 4-0.