NAIROBI, Kenya, December 2- Harambee Stars have been all but knocked out of the CECAFA Tusker Cup after losing 2-1 to Ethiopia on Thursday.Two goals from Godo in the first half were enough to dump Jacob Mulee’s team out of Dar es Salaam.
Fred Ajwang pulled a goal back for Stars in the 85th minute after a period of intense pressure on the Ethiopian goal but it was not enough to keep the five time champions ib the tournament.
“I have to commend the performance they (Stars) for their performance. The team pushed the same way as they did in Malawi but our luck ran out. At the start we had several chances that we did not take but that cost us,” said Mulee.
The former Tusker coach lambasted the preparations his side went trough having not played enough friendly games.
“Its clear that we need to have friendlies before major competitions. We have to play in FIFA calendar weeks if we are to get cohesion. If we don’t do that the competition will leave us behind,” he added.
Bob Mugalia and Anthony both spurned chances to put Kenya in control in the first ten minutes with rasping shots but were both wide off the mark.
Ethiopia slowly began to get into the game with scintillating counter attacks that raised the temperature at The National Stadium.
They were rewarded in the 25th minute after James Situma committed a foul on the edge of his penalty area.
Godo took the subsequent free kick and his fearsome shot put Ethiopia 1-0 up and left Stars keeper Bonface Oluoch rooted to the sport.
Captain Stephen Ocholla had the chance to to tie the game after good interplay from John Baraza and Mugalia but the Ethiopian keeper easily dealt with his tame shot.
The Gazelles continued to dominate the game and were rewarded with another goal after pouncing on a loose ball to sweep up the field in a blink of an eye for Gogo to make it 2-0.
Ethiopia had the ball on a string in the beginning of the second half with Joshua Oyoo and Ajwang joining the fray.
Their inclusion was the spark Kenya needed with Mugalia and Odhiambo coming close but the goal eluded them.
Ajwang’s goal offered some brief hope for Kenya but Ethiopia saw out the match as victors.
