Kenya kick-started the 2018 Intercontinental Cup with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over New Zealand at the Mumbai Football Arena on a rainy Saturday evening. Fritz Schmid’s side scored early in the match through Sarpreet Singh (42’) but strikes from Miheso Cliffton (45+1’) and Ovella Ochieng (68’) bettered the All Whites’ lead.
Led by Thomas Doyle, the All Whites squad saw 26-year-old Nikko Boxall being handed his national team debut by coach Fritz Schmid. As for Kenya, Musa Mohammed captained the Harambee Stars as Pistone Mutamba, who found the net in Kenya’s friendly against Equatorial Guinea, led the attack.
New Zealand had the better control of the proceedings right from the beginning as their attack posed trouble for the Kenyan defence. In the 17th minute, All Whites midfielder Alex Rufer had an opportunity to get his side on the lead after he found space at the edge of the box but the 21-year-old midfielder's attempt flew over the goal.
Kenya, on the other hand, tried to build up play from the left flank. In the 37th minute, Ovella Ochieng sent the ball forward for Erick Ouma; the latter took a shot from the left-side but it hit the crossbar and went out of play.
In the 42nd minute, New Zealand drew the first blood through Sarpreet Singh’s strike. From the right-side of the box, Rufer passed the ball for Singh whose left-footed long-range shot sailed into the net. However, Kenya equalled the score in the dying minutes of the first half through Miheso Cliffton’s inch-perfect free-kick. Cliffton hit the top right corner to bring the Harambee Stars back into the game.
Kenya came out all guns blazing in the second half as they kept the All Whites’ defence on the edge. Around the hour mark, right-back Jockins Atudo whipped in a cross across the face of the goal but John Makwata failed to get to the end of it. However, New Zealand defender Justin Gulley’s clearance went haywire and nearly hit his own net.
In the 68th minute, Kenya scored their second goal to complete the comeback. On the counter, Kenya’s Patilah Omoto picked out the run of Ochieng in behind the defence; custodian Crocombe came off his line to avert the danger but Ochieng slotted the ball past him.
The Kiwis failed to recover from the deficit as they bowed down to the Kenyan squad which walked off the pitch with three points at the final whistle. Kenya will next face India on Monday (June 4) in their second tie of the tournament in Mumbai.