Crested Cranes suffer but fall respectably in Machakos game

Decent effort. Crested Cranes put on a gallant display despite going down to Kenya in Machakos yesterday. PHOTO BY MAKHTUM MUZIRANSA

MACHAKOS.

There was nothing Crested Cranes goalkeeper Ruth Aturo could do to stop Kenya’s 53rd minute goal in yesterday’s 1-0 away loss in Machakos. Kenya now hold advantage in the two-legged Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifier that climaxes Sunday at Star Times Stadium, Lugogo.
The goal came from what looked like a harmless or routine move to build from the back. Uganda had thwarted many of these prior to the goal which found Aturo off her line in a bid to urge her teammates to press high up the soggy pitch - battered by overnight and early morning rains.
The desperate cross from Kenyan right-back Lillian Adera that had caused anguish among fans quickly turned into ululations for the home crowd as it found the back of the net with Aturo’s vision partly blurred by the afternoon sun. “Uganda were very physical and stopped us from creating chances but the goal came from how we want to play,” Kenya coach David Ouma said.
“I think they will change strategy in Kampala so we have to be ready for anything,” Ouma added.
For Ugandan coach Faridah Bulega, the slim loss means Sunday offers a fighting chance.
“We have lost but I am happy with how we applied ourselves defensively,” Bulega said.
This was Uganda suffering rope-a-dope style but without Muhammad Ali’s win over George Foreman in Rumble in the Jungle. In the end, winger Zainah Namuleme fainted because of what she had to put in to match the intensity and physicality of Kenyans. Left back Grace Aluka was stretchered off after she pulled a muscle chasing down a Kenyan counter-attack. Striker Hasifah Nassuna tucked in deep and earned the game’s only yellow card as she tried to turn ‘dirty’. Yet in many ways the end result was a reason to look forward to Sunday.

AWCON QUALIFIER - MACHAKOS

Kenya 1-0 Uganda
*Kenya lead two-legged encounter 1-0
*Return leg on April 8 at StarTimes Stadium,