The Kenyan representatives had a slow start and struggled to contain the opposition in the first half, thrice coming close to conceding an equaliser, having taken the lead in the 17th minute. “We played our hearts out in the second half. Our half time talk gave us the confidence to play our game as opposed to playing to their long balls and we are happy it worked for us in the end. We have more matches to play and our focus will still be the same, play our game and win the remaining matches,” said Vihiga Queens’ Gentrix Shikangwa. It was a high-energy encounter in the first fifteen minutes as Vihiga Queens tried to settle in the match while New Generation played high balls that seemed to destabilise the home girls. Harambee Starlets forward Shikangwa would have bagged Vihiga’s first in the sixth minute but was adjudged offside.Generation got their first chance to go ahead in the 11th minute but Vihiga’s custodian Lilian Awor dived to stop the attempt and keep her side in the match. Shikangwa was again denied by Generation’s Yasin Zuena as she came close to breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute beating the offside trap to send a shot from the left flank which was was punched out by the keeper for a corner. A minute later, she put Vihiga ahead, again beating the offside trap to get to the end of a Mercyline Anyango pass and drive the ball between the on-rushing New Generation goalkeeper’s legs for the opener. Terry Engesha won a free kick few metres from the box in the 19th minute and elected to go for goal but her efforts missed goal bu a few inches.New Generation pushed back with an attempt of their own four minutes later but were denied by the Vihiga Queens’ keeper in what seemed like her first test form the opposition, handling the ball well. Ali Haji’s charges were twice denied by the crossbar in the 24th and 32nd minutes of the match as the first half ended with the Charles Okere-led Vihiga holding the slim advantage. On resumption, Vihiga seemed settled and connected their passes well, winning a corner one minute into the half but efforts to tap in from close range after the corner was taken were thwarted by the referees whistle who gave possession to the opposing side for a foul on Zuena. Three minutes later Shikangwa curled a free kick from outside the box which was punched out by the shot stopper with Violet Nanjala’s follow up shot again stopped by the indefatigable Zuena just Their efforts, however paid off in the 51st minute as Engesha headed home for Vihiga’s second goal and her first in the match (third in the qualifiers). As Vihiga celebrated their second goal the opposition made their first change bringing in Esther Masawe for Hafidha Juma. The change did little to stop Vihiga’s ne found momentum as Shikangwa bagged a brace and the side’s third in the 58th minute, tapping in a Nanjala’s assist. Anyango who had been impressive in midfield had her moment at goal in the 62nd minute. Left raoming the midfield unmarked, she saw a chance to have her name on the scoresheet and took it. She looped the ball from deep in the midfield to beat the keeper for the team’s fourth. Okere rested Ugandan Joan Birye for Myline Awuor while Janet Bundi came in for Nanjala in the 72nd minute, changes that injected new energy. Ten minutes later Robai Kebedi came in for Alice Muderi. It rained goals in the last three minutes and four of the additional time as Maureen Achieng headed home an Engesha cross for Vihiga’s fifth. Kebedi, Engesha and Shikangwa each scored in the 91st, 93rd and 94th minutes to take Vihiga’s goals to eight.
