Rising Starlets annihilate Angola to move closer to World Cup

Beldine Odemba-coached national U20 Women's team Rising Starlets were a cut above their opponents Angola, playing for a 6-1 win in a match played at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday 18 October.

The two sides were meeting in the first leg of the second round qualifier matches for next year's FIFA U20 World Club set to be hosted in Colombia in August/ September 2024.

A Valerie Nekesa hat-trick, Charity Midewa brace and a goal from second half substitute Faith Naliaka got the job done, cheered on by an enthusiastic fanbase that urged the team on with every spectacular pass, dribble, chance, goal and more.

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In the fourth minute of the match, Angola failed to clear the ball and with their keeper Helena Mutango out of her line, Nekesa sent a feeble shot past the keeper but it was enough to open Kenya's account as Angola painfully watched the ball roll slowly to the back of the net.

Two minutes later, the situation repeated itself, Nekesa beating the onrushing Mutango to slot in Kenya's second and give the home team a huge advantage barely ten minutes into the game.

Odemba's charges would have made it 3-0 in the first quarter of the match but Nekesa, clear on goal, decided to pass to the unmarked Midewa whose effort was blocked by Mutango for an unproductive corner kick.

Kenya kept knocking on Angola's goal and their efforts were answered in the 22nd minute when Nekesa slotted home for her hat-trick.

Angola, who had made their first change in the 20th minute, bringing in Domingas Mutolo for Maria Isabel and deployed on the right to deal with the menacing Nekesa, pulled one back in the 24th minute with a powerful volley from Ivone Julio to the top corner of the Kenyan goal, beating Scovia Awuor.

The goal seemed to have given Angola renewed confidence in their game as they got pushing for a second goal while denying Kenya with better defense.

Kenya should have gone up 4-1 inside 35 minutes but Fasila Adhiambo and Midewa missed sitters, the latter redeeeming herself in the added minutes of the first half with a well-taken free kick that flew past everyone into the back of the net to send the home side to the halftime break with a three-goal advantage.

"It was a good game for my girls, despite a few mistakes that we will correct on going into the second leg. We are not resting on our laurels as we have seen instances of brilliant play from Angola and we need to cut them off completely.

This is the third time Kenya is participating in these qualifiers and the target is to go all the way to the global games. We have what it takes," Odemba offered after the win.

Odemba made her first change before the second half kickoff, introducing Naliaka for Jerrine Adhiambo.

It was a relatively quiet start to the half with neither side threatening to change the sccoreline but Kenya slowly settled into the match and pushed forward breaking the hold in the 58th minute.

Midewa was left unmarked in the box as a corner kick was taken from the left side and she had an easy one, heading home from close range for 5-1.

Second half substitute Naliaka put Starlets five goals ahead in the 80th minute with a calmly taken shot after her markers gave her way too much space and time to line her shot.

Kenya had more chances on goal in the dying minutes of the March but none was converted, the match ending 6-1.

"I am not happy with the result. We were prepared to come here for a positive result but we head back home having not achieved our target. We will make changes ahead of the second leg," Angola head coach Sandra Dias offered after the match.