The Homabay County boys' team outclassed Mombasa in an enthralling seven-goal thriller to secure a semifinal berth at the ongoing Talanta Hela Under-19 national football tournament.
The Nyanza region representatives fended off a vicious challenge posed by their obstinate opponents, registering an emphatic 5-2 victory in the first boys' quarter-finals staged at Nyayo Stadium on Friday.
Moses Omondi fired the victors ahead in the 22nd minute from the spot following an infringement in the penalty area.
But it wasn't long before fleet-footed offensive midfielder Tyrese Odari teed up Abdalla Abdulfafida for an equalizer four minutes later.
Cecil Miller then pounced on Onyango Kenyatta's enticing through ball to fire a rocket past Mombasa custodian Zambia Ali for Homabay's second goal in the 39th minute.
In the end-to-end encounter that witnessed a flurry of opportunities, William Gitamu sped down the left channel before lobbing a pass into the area where his teammate Dickson positioned himself strategically to restore parity seconds before the break.
But Homabay were not done just yet. Godwin Owino picked out Ben Ogutu with a pinpoint pass which the forward gladly buried into the gaping net in the 61st minute, effectively restoring their lead.
Some neatly strung passes in the midfield by the talent-laden Homabay midfield would later yield two quickfire goals.
Hamisi Otieno delivered a pass on the edge of the box into the feet of Cecil Miller who burnt a hole in the net for his second and Homabay's fourth in the game.
Five minutes later, Miller was at the centre of action again providing an assist to Geoffrey Omondi who blasted the back of the net to hammer the final nail into Mombasa's casket.
