A brace by Mercy Airo and an added time header from Neddy Atieno were enough to hand Ulinzi Starlets a 3-1 victory over Nakuru City Queens in the FKF Women’s Cup final on Sunday afternoon at the Nyayo National Stadium. Coach Joseph Wambua came to the match ready to defend the title his side won in the inaugural sseason, which also happened to be their debut season in the top tier league, and he delivered.Hii ndio inabamba.Congratulations to Ulinzi Starlets for defending the FKF Women’s Cup.#GBUS pic.twitter.com/LWlZuUK9Sa— Murimi Kipchirnjir (@muriminjirujnr) June 4, 2023 In the semis, Wambua’s charges had defeated Kisumu All Starlets 3-0 while Nakuru saw off Kibera Soccer Women in a 3-2 outcome on the matches played in Nakuru. “I am happy that we have lived up to expectations and defended the title we won in 2021. This was the only silverware we could take back to our sponsors and employer and I am proud of how the players showed up when it mattered. It had not been an easy season, we were targeting the double but I mist congratulate Vihiga Queens for defending the league title. This Cup win is good motivation going forward as we will prepare for the new league with something to hold on to,” said coach Wambua. Skipper Everlyne Juma had a real chance at opening the scores just three minutes into the game, rounding three defenders to get inside the boxNzoia tactician Salim Babu confident of winning league titleHowever, her last attempt at controlling the ball to slot in stretched a bit too far and the goalkeeper got there in time to collect ball and avert an early goal..Two minutes later and Joan Naitutu was again denied by The very effective Juliet Adhiambo between the sticks for Nakuru. The deadlock was broken ten minutes into the game as Airo, tapped in from close ranger, the ball having been played on to her path by Fasila Adhiambo who had beaten the offside trap with a clever pass behind the defense line and rushing on to meet the ball for the assist. In what could easily be Nakuru’s first real chance at goal, Elizabeth Muteshi had her attempt at goal blocked by Ulinzi’s defense, allowing the goalkeeper to rush on for the safe withdrawal of the ball from danger. The soldiers responded almost immediately as Sophia Adhiambo got to the end of a Lenah Wanjala mispass. She made a pass to Airo who shot a thunderbolt that ricocheted off the cross bar to the back of the goal-line.It took centre referee Lucy Juma a few seconds to whistle for the 20th minute goal and even Nakuru seemed eager to continue with the match until the whistler pointed to the centre, sending Wambua’s charges into celebratory mode.Three minutes later Fasila came close to a third goal for the military side, her effort to the top right corner punched away by the Nakuru keeper who had sp far had a good game with timely saves. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7299440##Both sides settled after the two goals and exchanged unsuccessful attacks, with Ulinzi dominant, even without any threatening-enough chances. Nakuru committed what could have been a costly foul, with about five minutes left on the clock, as the referee appeared to be angling towards sending the culprit off but consultations with the lines woman reduced the punishment to a yellow card. The succeeding free kick just outside the box flew dangerously towards Nakuru’s goal but the keeper managed to put a hand on it for a friutless corner. Moments to the conclusion of the first half saw Melon Mulindi come close for Nakuru with only the keeper to beat as she had overpowered the defense. She, however, sent her effort over the bar to head to the break with a two-goal deficit.”This was a good run for us as a team. Making it to the final of the Cup competition is no mean feat. There can only be one winner so we congratulate Ulinzi,” coach Chrispine Wesonga offered adding that inexperience cost them the title. Second half substitute Merceline Wafula pulled one back in the 48th minute, making up for Mulindi’s sins who had missed to convert a bicycle kick a minute earlier. FKF Women’s Cup: Kibera Soccer Ladies floor Kisumu All Starlets to finish thirdThe run of play in the first ten minutes of the match remained favouring Nakuru, with Mulindi coming close to an equaliser in the 52nd minute when she attempted a low range shot from inside the box, missing target by inches. Wambua had also replaced Joy Kinglady with the lethal Neddy and she became a nightmare for Nakuru on her wing. She had back-to-back opportunities, in the 63rd minute, to open her account in the final and add a third for Ulinzi but she was first denied by the post and her second attempt went slightly over the bar. The tempo quietened for the next 20 minutes with half chances on both ends of the pitch bit a majority of the time spent at the centre of the pitch. The last five minutes and an added four were explosive as Nakuru sought for an equaliser, putting Judith Omondi to the test severally with little to write home about. Against the run of play in those minutes Neddy finally got her chance to get into the scoresheet, rising above everyone to head home from a corner for the winning goal.
