Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga marked his eight-year anniversary in the national team in perfect style as he grabbed his twenty second goal for the country in Kenya’s 2-1 loss to Iran in an international friendly match played at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Tuesday evening.Having made his debut in the team on 28 March 2015 against Seychelles in a friendly, the striker put the team ahead with an ice cool finish in the 51st minute but his composed strike ended up counting for nothing following two avoidable errors that costed the team as Iran scored two goals in seven minutes to complete the comeback.FT: Iran 2-1 KenyaMohebi⚽️Rezaein⚽️Olunga⚽️Not a bad performance from Stars considering the opposition. It’s a pity this team will not play any competitive football till next year. Matasi let us down big time. We should have gotten a draw. pic.twitter.com/1RIPmDkgn1— Elijah Ouko (@elijah_ouko) March 28, 2023 First HalfThe game got off with the traffic directed towards only one direction as Iran bossed possession with Kenya showing the expected rusty signs of a side that had not played since November 2021.The hosts probed early on with new Kenya Police recruit Patrick Matasi having to make two saves to keep the deadlock intact in the opening fourteen minutes.Their first chance came from a corner kick delivery that was well seen by the experienced custodian who tipped the ball out for throw in on the other end.FT: Iran 2-1 Kenya. Lots of positives. Lots of lessons. I hope we keep this squad for the next two years of course with a few additions here and there.— Japheth Mutinda (@JaphMutinda) March 28, 2023 And from the next phase of play, the goalkeeper was once on hand to prevent danger as he made a low save to latch onto a fizzled Iran cross that could have ended up anywhere with their attackers running towards goal.Kenya thought they had the game’s clearest chanceon the 19th minute when they hit on the counter but captain Michael Olunga failed to capitalize when he wildly hit his shot over the bar from the area of the box in an attempt that demanded better from him.The country’s first attempt on target came on the 29th minute when a lively Masud Juma created acres of space for himself by beating an Iranian defender with a deft touch before squaring the ball to Abuya with a searching cross.##NAJAVA_MECA_7137316##As if not expecting the ball, the Kenya Police attacker failed to set himself as he awkwardly deflected the ball towards goal with his knees in a desperate attempt to get something onto it leaving Iran keeper Payam Niazmand to collect easily.Kenya were keen to strike on the counter whenever they had the ball and Juma created another good chance when he wriggled past three defenders but his final ball was just lacking as it lacked any real threat to trouble Niazmand who watched the effort roll out for a corner after taking a slight deflection with the half ending 0-0.H.TSolid performance from the boys.We now have all to play for in the second half.#WeAreBack pic.twitter.com/Ml6KJ8p8Ch— Harambee Stars (@Harambee__Stars) March 28, 2023 Second halfAt the resumption of the second period, Engin Firat introduced Kenneth Muguna in place of Abuya to try and shake up things upfront.Just six minutes in, Olunga led from the front when he kept his composure before slotting into the back of the net to give Kenya the lead very much against the run of play.Player ratings: Night to forget for Matasi as Harambee Stars bow to IranIt all started when Juma hoofed the ball upfront as he cleared his lines. The ball fell perfectly in Olunga’s path who easily shrugged off his Iranian marker leaving him with acres of space in front of him and only one Iran defender.With Omune also closing in to make it a 2v1 situation, Olunga, choosing to ignore the free man, comfortably kept the ball before finding the bottom corner with a perfectly placed attempt that gave Niazmand no chance as he wheeled off in celebration.What a Goal #Olunga 🥳👏#KenyaVsIran 🇰🇪🇰🇪#BecomingSyombua pic.twitter.com/YeP3k54X7S— Syombua A. Kibue (@Syombuak) March 28, 2023 Just minutes later, Matasi had to make another crucial save to keep Kenya in the lead when Iran managed to break on the counter only for the keeper to punch the ball out for a corner.The hosts, now in desperate search of an equalizer, ramped up the heat and almost came close to equalizing save for a last-ditch block by Joseph Okumu who deflected Mehdi Taremi’s goal bound strike over the bar on the 71st minute.Six minutes later, Kenya were not to be lucky as Mohammad Mohebi rose highest to head in an inch perfet Ramin Rezaeian cross into the area that had been awarded when Eric Ouma made a needless foul outside the box with no pressure.pic.twitter.com/TYGVFtFH5P— Njiru Eric (@Njiruuu) March 28, 2023 Seven minutes later, a howler from Matasi, who had impressed in the game till then, ended up allowing the hosts to take a first-time lead in the match.From a short free kick, Rezaeian attempted to cut the ball back into the area but his seemingly innocuous disappointingly cross squeezed through Matasi’s hand before rolling over the line.pic.twitter.com/L9vM5fFSrO— Njiru Eric (@Njiruuu) March 28, 2023 That heads in hands moment ended up proving to be the final meaningful moment as Iran sealed the 2-1 win.
