Nairobi’s Super 8 Qualify for COPA Coca-Cola Provincial Finals

An eclectic combination of pace, flair, skill, intelligent touches and aerial dominance were all on display last weekend as eight teams qualified for the COPA Coca-Cola Nairobi provincial finals.

Makadara Academy and Ruaraka High opened the games played at Starehe Boys grounds with an entertaining 1-1 draw in normal time and a 4-1 win for Makadara in post-match penalties.

Makadara dominated their Ruaraka opponents from the first whistle but surprisingly fell behind midway into the first half as Ruaraka’s George Gichuhi latched onto a cross from Austin Oduor, chested the ball down before lobbing it past the keeper and into the net. Makadara Academy continued to dictate the game but had nothing to show as the first half came to an end.

Ruaraka started the second half the brighter and thought they had doubled the lead when Hassan Kituno found the back of the net only for the referee to rule it offside. A lapse of concentration from Ruaraka keeper five minutes later then gifted Makadara’s Brian Musa a glorious chance to draw his team level and he wasted no chance drilling the ball into the roof of the net for the equalizer.

A midfield battle then ensued but no team had the knack to pull off a win as the referee signaled for penalties. Makadara Academy scored all their penalties but it was their goalkeeper Wycliffe Onyango who was the hero saving all but one of Ruaraka’s penalties as his team won 4-1.

In the second match, pace and aerial supremacy proved the difference as an entertaining and skillful Starehe Youth gelled intelligently to whip JMJ football Academy 4-0. Antony Mieno’s lightning speed propelled him to scoring a brace while Edwin Mwangi and James Mwoni grabbed the other two.

In other matches, Philip Okombe’s solitary goal was enough to help Jamhuri Secondary go past home team Starehe Boys, while Lang’ata Boys piped Lang’ata High School 2-1. Asec Academy got away with a 3-1 win over Gateway Academy in another post-match shootout as Aquinas High were brought down 2-0 by academy boys Kasarani.

Anointed Secondary sucked up pressure from a resurgent Kamukunji Academy in their 4-3 win while Joseph Ondiwa and Arnold Baraka were both on target as Ofafa Jericho whitewashed Kamukunji Secondary 2-0 to book a place in the provincial finals slated for July 16-17.

And That's thesteifmastertake!!