NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 3 – Diana Anyango scored twice with skipper Lorna Faith and Sharon Vidah adding one each as Busia kicked off their Talanta Hela U19 Tourney Group A campaign with a convincing 4-0 thrashing of Kakamega, in what was ‘Mulembe Derby’ opener at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Busia, who qualified for the nationals via the play-offs in Nyeri two weeks ago were in a class of their own, showing their superb passing and technical ability and lay their claim as one of the favorites for the girls’ title.
Busia showed their intent from the onset and only needed five minutes to break the deadlock, Anyango slamming the ball home from close range after the Kakamega backline struggled to clear a cross.
The Kakamega keeper kept her side in the game in the 24th minute when she pulled a brilliant point blank save to deny Lorna from close range after the skipper ran to the near post to a Judith Nandwa cross.
But there was no denying Busia the second in the 33rd minute when Anyango scored a brilliant goal dancing her way past her markers before beating the keeper with a low side-footed finish.
Linda Achieng made an effort to strike a response for Kakamega when she made a run on the right, but her shot flew straight to the keeper, as Busia went to the break two up.
They would continue on the same offensive mode in the second half, skipper Lorna adding her name to the scoresheet with a simple tap from close range after Dorcas Gender’s cross from the right evaded everyone including the keeper.
A piece of individual brilliance from Vidah saw Busia make it four for the afternoon, the lanky midfielder dancing her way from deep inside her half, using her pace and ball control skills to evade defenders and strike powerfully past the keeper.
On the other end, Kakamega had a chance to draw one back from a setpiece after a foul from the edge of the box, but Elizabeth Mideva’s strike went inches over the bar.
With a 4-0 score and pressure minimal, Busia simply touched the ball around the parck, enjoying the game to preserve the lead, as they wowed the crowd with their different individual skills.
Busia now go top of their group with three points, and with a win in the next match are assured of a quarter final slot.
