NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 29 – A goalkeeping mistake from Patrick Matasi six minutes from time saw Iran complete a comeback against Kenya, Ramin Razaeian squeezing in a goal from the near post as Iran beat Harambee Stars 2-1 in an international friendly match in Tehran.
Michael Olunga had given Stars the lead in the second half, but Iran equalized through Mohammad Mohebi’s 76th minute header from a Razaeian freekick.
Stars had imposed themselves well in the match and started well, playing compact behind the ball and limiting Iran’s pacy movement.
The home side had a sniff at goal after 10 minutes when Shahriyar Moghanlou picked upo the ball from range but his shot was over the bar.
Stars had two good chances on the other end, first Olunga firing over from distance while Masud Juma kneed the ball straight to the keeper after some brilliant work from Amos Nondi who then slashed in a cross from the right.
In the second half, Stars started well and got into the lead six minutes after the restart when Olunga picked the ball from halfway, turned away from his marker before running down to the edge of the six yard box to shoot low into the bottom right.
The home side picked up their momentum after conceding and came close on the hour mark when Mohebi struck a shot from a tight angle but it was saved by Matasi, before Aref Aghasi curled the ball over.
In the 70th minute, Joseph Okumu put in a brilliant block to deny Mehdi Taremi from close range.
But, the home side earned the leveller 14 minutes from time when Mohebi glanced in a header from a Razaeian freekick, with Matasi off his line.
The new Kenya Police FC shot stopper than had a blunder to forget six minutes from time when he let the ball slip under his arms from a Razaeian shot from a tight angle.