STARS ABROAD: Harambee Stars midfielder suffers defeat in English playoffs as Wilson features in Sweden

Harambee Stars midfielder Clarke Oduor was in action as Grimsby Town let an early lead slip to go 2-1 down to Salford City in the first leg of the English Football League (EFL) League Two playoffs semifinal at Blundell Park on Sunday, 10 May.

Download our Mozzart Sport app for more news

Oduor, who was reinstated into the starting lineup for The Mariners, played 79 minutes in the defeat, which leaves them with a mountain to climb in the away second leg, to stand a chance at securing League One promotion.

Grimsby had a dream start to the game when defender Reece Staunton unleashed a belter from long-range in the first minute, but saw that lead disappear just three minutes later, when Kallum Cesay slalomed his way into the box, and finished into the bottom right corner.

There was no stopping the visitors, who finished fourth in the regular season, as Adebola Oluwo scored their second in the 40th minute, a goal that ensured the Greater Manchester side went to Friday, 15 May’s second leg with an advantage.

Heartbreak for Harambee Stars duo as Zambian club suffers cup final defeat

Elsewhere in Armenia, Kenyan midfielder Alwyn Tera was on the field for 61 minutes as his Ararat Armenia side suffered a 4-0 defeat to Noah, to put their title hopes on hold.

Ararat, following their 1-0 win over Pyunik Yerevan in midweek, would have sealed their first Armenian Premier League this weekend with a win, coupled with other advantageous results, but were instead hammered at home, to keep them waiting till the final day.

Noah were 2-0 up in the first 18 minutes through goals from Nardin Mulahusejnovic and Helder Ferreira, before adding another couple late on in the second half, via a brace from Matheus Aias.

In Norway, Harambee Stars forward Alfred Scriven was involved as his Bryne FK side won its first game of the season by beating Moss 3-2 at the Melløs Stadion.

Scriven, who scored in his team’s previous match against Sogndal, played the full 90 minutes as the visitors wrapped up the nervy win, which saw them lead 3-0, only to concede twice in stoppage time.

The result lifted Bryne out of the relegation zone into 13th with four points.

In Sweden, Kenyan youngster Stanley Wilson clocked another 90 minutes as AIK lost 4-2 at home to Djugarden.

Wilson, who was much praised this week for his versatility, was deployed as part of a back three, even as the hosts stumbled to their third defeat in the last four matches.

The loss saw AIK drop to ninth in the Allsvenskan table with eight points from seven matches played this season.

Out in Germany, Harambee Stars prospect Linton Maina played 72 minutes of FC Koln’s 2-1 defeat to bottom-placed Bundesliga side Heidenheim.

Maina, who is born to a Kenyan father and a German mother, was on the field when Heidenheim scored twice in the first half to take a 2-1 lead, before being hooked off for Florian Kainz.

Brilliant 3K FC outsmart Fortune Sacco to bag Majirani Derby's bragging rights

The loss saw Koln remain 14th with 32 points, while Heidenheim lifted themselves off bottom spot to 17th with 26 points.

Meanwhile in Singapore, Harambee Stars defender Nabi Kibunguchy played the full 90 minutes as Hougang lost 1-0 to Tampines, a result that kept them stuck in second place in the Premier League with 46 points.