Christine Gitaru (in red) of Nginda evades Eburu Girls defence at the ARS Nationals on July 29, 2015 in Machakos. Nginda won 2-1.
MACHAKOS, July 29- Laiser Hill became the first side to book a place in the boy’s football semi finals at the ongoing Airtel Rising Stars nations after overpowering Passenga 2-1 in Machakos on Wednesday.
The Metropolitan champions left their Aberdare counterparts with a mountain to climb after racing to a 2-0 half-time lead courtesy of a Kennedy Mwangi brace.
Passenga re-grouped and forced their way back through James Kinyanjui but the Nairobi side held on for a 2-1 final score to amass six points in Pool B and a place in the semis with a game to spare.
The battle for the second team to join the leaders in the last four will go down to the wire after Simotwo from Mau recovered from a 4-0 mauling to Laiser to force joint-favourites, Waa to a scintillating 2-2 draw.
Coastal titans Waa started like a house on fire and were soon 2-0 to the good when Rashid Kigwe and Zachary Mwakasuka found the target and for long, seemed to have done enough to secure maximum points.
However, late goals from Shadrack Kimutai and Emmanuel Kibet forced the stalemate that leaves Pool B reading, Laiser 6, Waa 4, Simotwo 1 and Passenga 0 with final day results when the top-two clash having a bearing on the final standings.
In the girls’ competition, Nginda and Kobala are through to the semis after winning their second successive Pool B fixtures to set up a fight for top place when they meet in the final group games.
Nginda followed up their opening 4-1 win over Kikima with a 2-1 win over Eburu where Irene Amutabi and Rachel Mwende scored for the winners with Pamela Simiyu netting what was ultimately a consolation.
Kobala built on Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Eburu with a 2-1 win over Kikima to reach the last four.
