Toast from the coast: Hassan's strike sink Tanzania

Sensational Bandari winger Abdallah Hassan came off the bench to score the second goal for Harambee Stars as Kenya edged bitter neighbors Tanzania 2-1 in an international friendly match played at Nyayo National Stadium on Monday 15th March 2021.

Two assists from Sofapaka man Lawrence Juma in each half set up Eric Kapaito and Hassan to enable Kenya continued with their impressive friendly run ahead of Afcon qualifiers.

Kapaito gave Harambee Stars the lead with a clinical close range header in the eighteenth minute but Azam's Ayub Lyanga restored parity in the game before Abdallah

Hassan's second half beauty sealed the win for Kenya.

It is Harambee Stars who had the early flashes on goal as they aimed to make their intent known. As early as the third minute Kapaito got the first real chance of

the game but failed to head the ball cleanly after his Kariobangi Sharks team mate Daniel Sakari found him all alone in the box with a pin point delivery. The league's top

scorer heading his effort just wide off goal.

Juma then thought he had given Kenya the lead in the 15th minute after Kapaito squared him with a neat through pass but the midfielder could only hit the goalpost after sending the goalkeeper down the wrong way. Just three minutes later, Kapaito would not miss a second invitation on goal.

The marauding Sakari, who was very lively, worked his way down the right hand side and squared the ball to Juma just before the ball went out of touch. Juma looked up once and delivered a powerful cross into the face of goal.

Kapaito, instinctively, read the cross and got to the ball before the keeper could intercept giving Kenya a 1-0 lead through a headed effort.

Ascendancy was with the Kenyan side as Kevin Kimani came close to adding a second. His free kick beat the goalkeeper but could only find the crossbar and not the back of the net.

Head coach Ghost Mulee made the first change in the 26th minute, bringing on Danson Chetambe for Michael Mutinda who had probably been rushed back into the starting eleven after a knock to the knee.

In the 32nd minute, Kenneth Muguna wheeled off in celebration after his header went past Juma Kaseja in the Tanzania goal, only for the linesman to lift his flag and cut short the celebrations for offside.

Shocked after conceding, Tanzania silently restored parity in the game in the 38th minute when Ayub Lyanga got in the right position to easily head in a thunderbolt that had cannoned off the upright to ensure the game went into the half time break levelled 1-1.

That goal silenced the small Kenyan crowd that had started to find their voice. The second half got off to an even affair, with both teams taking turns to trade blows but neither of the two could find a telling touch just yet.

Harambee Stars would find that elusive touch in the 58th minute through super sub Abdallah Hassan who come on at the start of the second half for James Mazembe.

Tanzania aimed to start play from the back but Kapaito and Juma closed down quickly to retrieve the ball.

Juma then set Hassan through on goal and the Bandari man did not dare miss, curving the ball into the bottom corner for a 2-1 Kenya lead. The cherry on top was Hassan pulling the 'Sukari' dance style to celebrate that goal. Tanzania got out of their comfort zone in the second half but however much they tried,

Kenya only limited them to half harmless chances to ensure we got a second consecutive win in two days in the process exacting revenge on Tanzania.