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Togo 1-2 Kenya: Harambee Stars end Afcon qualifiers on a high
The visitors struck in either half to down their hosts who got their goal late in the game
Kenya finished the Africa Cup of Nations Group G qualifiers on a high after defeating Togo 2-1 at Kegue Stadium in Lome on Monday evening.
Abdallah Hassan opened the scoring for the Harambee Stars before Masoud Juma doubled the advantage. The Sparrowhawks got their goal courtesy of Henri Eninful.
The visitors started the match without star striker Michael Olunga, goalkeeper Ian Otieno, defender Joash Onyango and midfielder Juma Lawrence who reportedly tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the dead rubber.
In the fifth minute, the hosts had a chance to test James Saruni in the Kenya goal when Duncan Otieno conceded a foul in a good area, but Abdou-Samiou Tchatakora failed to capitalise on the chance.
The visitors had a chance to find the back of the net in the 20th minute when Kevin Kimani brought in a dangerous corner kick, but a slight touch by N'Guissan Djehani ensured Juma did not head the ball and it went out for an unfruitful corner.
Moments later, the Sparrowhawks won a corner and a low ball was played into the danger zone in search of Ihlas Bebou, who went down under a heavy challenge from Clyde Senaji but the referee was not interested despite protests for a penalty.
In the 30th minute, the East Africans managed to break the deadlock. Clyde Senaji won the ball before playing it to Clifton Miheso, who passed it to the advancing Hassan. The Bandari winger held his cool to lob the ball past the custodian and into the back of the net.
Two minutes later, the Harambee Stars could have doubled their advantage but Juma missed the target under pressure from the defenders.
In the stroke of half-time, the Togo custodian was forced into a double save after the defenders failed to clear the ball in the danger zone, Kimani unleashed a fierce strike, and Djehani parried it as far as Juma, whose follow-up shot was deflected out for an unfruitful corner.
The Stars started the second 45 minutes defensively as their hosts pushed for an equalizer, but the Kenyans were disciplined and ensured Saruni was not troubled at the back.
In the 66th minute, Juma was felled in the danger zone by Kangnivi Ama Tchoutchoui and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. The forward rose to the occasion and made no mistake from 12-yards to double Kenya's advantage.
Five minutes later, a defensive lapse allowed Ihlas Bebou to break in a one-on-one situation with Saruni but the latter pulled off a fantastic save to deny him.
The Sparrowhawks finally managed to beat Saruni in stoppage time.
The Kenya defender handled the ball in the danger zone and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Eninful held his nerve to halve the deficit as the visitors walked home with maximum points to finish third on the table with seven points while Togo remained bottom with two.
