Junior Starlets step away from sealing World Cup ticket after demolishing Ethiopia in third round
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 19.05.24. | 17:04
Kenya will face Burundi in the final phase of the qualification with the winner on aggregate securing ticket to the World Cup
Kenya's Junior Starlets are now a step away from qualifying for the 2024 U17 World Cup that will be staged in the Dominican Republic later this year.
The Kenya U17 team defeated Ethiopia 3-0 in a third-round second-leg qualification match at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon to set up a date with Burundi in the fourth and final qualification round, where the winner will advance to the World Cup.
Kenya's goals came from skipper Elizabeth Ochaka who headed in a minute to halftime, before Velma Owour and Lorna Faith unleashed long-range stunners to wrap up the comprehensive 3-0 aggregate win having played out to a barren draw in Ethiopia last week.
Backed by a sizeable home crowd, the Starlets started the game positively in search of an early breakthrough, but Ethiopia tactically disrupted their momentum through fouls that went unpunished.
Joan Ogola on the left was particularly challenging for the Ethiopian defenders with her dribbling and pace.
After the early pressure, Ethiopia slowly settled into the game and began to attack. Mahlet Mitiku and Hidat Kassu were their main attacking outlets.
Velma Awuor had a good chance in the 38th minute, but she hesitated to shoot, allowing the Ethiopian defenders to reorganize and defend well.
A minute before the break, captain Ochaka gave Kenya a much-welcomed opener.
The defender rose high to head home from a corner kick, sending the stadium into delirium. Kenya took a 1-0 lead into the break.
Ten minutes into the second half, Awuor stunned the Ethiopian defenders with a world-class goal just outside the area, her shot that left the Ethiopian keeper rooted to the ground.
Faith then added a third just a minute after coming on in the 70th minute with a sweet left-foot volley.
Kenya professionally kept Ethiopia at bay to win the game convincingly.
