Four Teams Book COPA Coca-Cola Semi Finals Slot

Nairobi trio JMJ Academy, Otto Benecker and Beijing Girls as well as Nyanza’s Kisumu Queens have booked their slot in the COPA Coca-Cola U-15 semi finals slated for Friday at Hope Center Kawangware.

Kisumu Queens became the first team to book their semi-final slot after beating Murhanda Girls 2-1 in the girls’ version of “Mashemeji” derby.

The high tempo match saw the two Pool B top dogs display the kind of quality football that has seen them dismiss their opponents with relative ease. After strolling past Maragua Queens 9-0 in their first match, the Lakeside-based team were odds-on favorites to cruise past Murhanda who thrashed Kapsowar 4-0 yesterday.

But like a typical derby match, Murhanda held against their own and offered resistance at least until the 11^th minute when Kisumu’s prolific forward Mercy Akinyi drilled in the opener for her team. The goal rattled the Western outfit but Kisumu offered them no reprieve as two minutes later, they doubled their lead, Audia Beryl slotting in after a lovely exchange with Mercy that left the Murhanda backline in sixes and sevens.

Murhanda reshuffled their rearguard with their coach changing to a more defensive system to try and avoid a drubbing akin to Maragua’s, a gamble that worked as Kisumu failed to find the back of the net for the rest of the game.

In fact, it was the Kakamega county side who found the back of the net with the last kick of the match, Laventine Lihemo tapping in from close range to ensure Kisumu conceded their first goal in the competition.

Hosts JMJ academy cruised into the semis with an 11-0 drubbing of Black Cats. After netting 4 goals in their opener against Young Muslims, the impressive golden boot-seeking Musa Masika added another quarter of goals while Lloyd Kim netted a hat-trick for the academy side. Vola Okinyi added a brace with Stephen Owino and Edwin Okoth also finding the back of the net.

Otto Benecker sent Kaloleni Queens packing with a 5-0 thrashing, Angachi Sherrill grabbing a brace, Lydia Awuor and Flora Wanjiku also registering their names on the score sheet to send the Mathare North side to semis with three wins out of three.

They will be joined by Beijing Girls from Group A who had Anney Makinde and Sharon Adhiambo to thank for their 2-0 win over Eastern side Mukuyuni Red Shooters.

Meanwhile Maragua Queens exited the competition in the worst way possible conceding 18 goals in two games. After losing 9-0 to Kisumu Queens in the opener, they suffered a similar score-line defeat to Kapsowar Girls.

Naomi Kemboi netted the opener for Kapsowar and went on to score four more goals in the second half in the one-sided encounter as Philane Kaino netted a hat-trick. An own goal from Maragua’s Nancy Wambui only compounded their misery as the Central provincial champions crashed out.

The last leg of the group stage matches will be played tomorrow at Hope Center. Kisumu Queens will clash against Kapsowar Girls as Murhanda Girls face already eliminated Maragua Queens in a match the former must win to guarantee their progress.

Malindi United versus Murhanda Boys and The Gunners versus Ruiru Neptunes will mark the end of an open Group A action where all the teams, bar Neptunes, stand a chance of advancing to the semis. Group B minnows in the boys’ category Young Muslims will take on Black Cats in a dead rubber match as Kisumu Lakers clash against JMJ Academy in what many tip as the dress rehearsal for the final.

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