Harambee Stars squander advantage as Russia force draw in friendly

The men’s national football team, Harambee Stars, were minutes away from recording a historic result when they played 2018 FIFA World Cup hosts Russia in an international friendly match staged at the Titanic Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey on Monday 16 October 2023.

However, one flick of brilliance from Russian substitute Ivan Oblyakov denied the Kenyans a chance to emerge victorious as his 89th minute strike helped Russia to salvage a 2-2 draw in the encounter that was a tale of two halves.

In what was the very first meeting between the two sides in history, first half goals from Anthony Akumu and Masud Juma on either side of Alexander Sobolev's early strike, almost ensured that Harambee Stars, who are ranked in position 109 in the latest rankings, caused a huge upset to the 39-ranked European nation.

But that moment never was as Oblyakov’s late heroics saw Kenya fail to close out the match they had led from the 36th minute.

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With head coach Engin Firat handing Gor Mahia's Rooney Onyango a starting debut and captain Michael Olunga leading the line, Kenya were immediately shown the task at hand after conceding just eight minutes in.

Sloppy play from former Wazito captain Johnstone Omurwa, who now plies his trade for Portuguese top-flight side Estrela de Amadora, allowed Sobolev a 1-on-1 with Omondi in goal after being fed by Maksim Mukhin.

The 26-year-old Spartak Moscow foward calmly kept his composure before rolling the ball into the bottom corner to give the Russians a 1-0 lead.

That advantage would only last eight minutes though as clever reading of play saw Akumu close down a Russia player who was trying to play from the back just shortly after Kenya was forced into replacing an injured Omondi with Patrick Matasi in goal.

The defensive midfielder, having won the ball then played Olunga on goal but the two-time Golden Boot winner in Qatar fluffed his chance with the ball falling kindly to Akumu who took a first time shot into the back of the net to restore parity.

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That goal seemed to whet Harambee Stars' desire for a second goal as they started playing more confidently on the ball.

Luckily for the team, a second goal soon came their way through Juma who found the bottom corner after Kenneth Muguna's misplaced header was diverted into his path by a poor Russian clearance.

The former Kariobangi Sharks man was in an offside position but the touch from the Russian player put him onside as he gave Kenya a 2-1 lead that went into the break.

The result could have been more comfortable, but a wasteful Olunga missed clear cut chances in the game on two occasions.

In the second half, Russia upped the ante with Kenya keen to defend their lead. Their resolute efforts almost paid off but the last-minute goal punched a hole right through the Kenyans who squandered a chance to write some piece of history.

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The game marked Kenya's last involvement in a series of high profile friendly matches that involved games against Iran, Qatar and Russia.

The team will now shift their focus to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers that begin in November with the team facing Gabon and Seychelles in its first two Group F clashes.