Kenya National U17 girls’ team Junior Starlets will have all to play for in the second leg of their 2024 FIFA U17 World Cup qualifiers after settling for a barren draw with Ethiopia at the Abebe Bekila Stadium on Friday.F.T🇪🇹 0-0 🇰🇪#JuniorStarlets #GoJuniorStarlets pic.twitter.com/643LCV59oq— Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) May 10, 2024 Starlets, who were seeking to gain an advantage having to begin their third-round matchup on the road, showed some inefficiencies in attack, but will gladly take the draw before squaring up the same opponents in Nairobi.The second-leg is set for May 19 at Ulinzi Complex, where the winner – over 90 minutes or on post-match penalties – will book a place in the fourth and final round for a place in the World Cup to be staged in the Dominican Republic.The winner from this tie will meet the winner between Burundi and Djibouti, also battling it out in the third round.##NAJAVA_MECA_8097045##The visitors got what in hindsight looks to have been their best chance of a fairly cagy contest when striker Marion Serenge, clear on goal inside the first minute, pushed a tame effort to Ethiopian keeper Abebayehu Tassew. Neither side really settled into the game in the opening minutes and while the hosts did seem to string some chances as the half wore down, Mildred Cheche’s team struggled big-time trying to build attacks.The latter was best illustrated shortly after the hour mark when Lorna Faith was hooked off for Gor Mahia Queens’ Susan Akoth for what was a like-for-like substitution in midfield.Much better composure was displayed by the Junior Starlets in the second half but they always felt vulnerable at the back.64′ Ethiopia 0-0 Kenya…..that Ethiopia number 7 is bad news— @MikeOkinyi HSC (@MikeOkinyi) May 10, 2024 Hidat Kassu came close after 62 minutes when her run inside the box was followed up by a right-foot shot that went agonizingly wide, while Mahlet Mitiku, often cutting in from the left, caused multiple problems for Velma Auma in goal.Late substitutions by Cheche to bring on notably Lindey Atieno for Diana Anyango were enterprising, but just couldn’t get the job done on the road.Focus will now turn to the second leg, where everything is laid up for the Kenyan side to punch their ticket to the fourth round on home soil. CAF CC: Revenge in the offing as RS Berkane face familiar foes Zamalek in final
