Kenya's national team, Harambee Stars squandered a second-half lead to crash 2-1 to hosts Iran in an action-packed friendly encounter at Azadi stadium in Tehran on Tuesday.
Skipper Michael Olunga was the toast for the country, putting the gallant Stars ahead in the 51st minute.
Olunga dispossessed an opponent in the middle of the field and danced his way past a defender before deftly hurling the ball past the Iranian keeper into the bottom corner of the net.
However, schoolboy howlers by Kenya Police custodian Patrick Matasi gifted the hosts two easy goals, erasing his earlier splendid performance where he exhibited composure under pressure to pull off three daring saves.
Mohammed Mohebi's well-taken free kick about 20 yards out, found Matasi out of position as the ball easily hovered over the keeper and hurtled into the back of the net.
Then with only six minutes left before the final whistle, the former Tusker FC custodian allowed Ramin Rezaeian's feeble attempt from a tight corner to clumsily slip through his cupped hands for Iran's second goal.
The Kenyan lads chose to fall back to the defensive third after taking the lead, allowing their opponents enough room and space to build up play and plan more inroads.
This was Kenya's first appearance on the international stage since February last year when the world football governing body imposed a ban due to third-party interference.
