FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers: Rising Starlets Earn Crucial First Leg Advantage Over Ethiopia

Kenya's Rising Stars blew away a 1-0 lead to share the spoils with Ethiopia in their second leg qualifying encounter in Addis Ababa on Sunday.

Kenya’s Rising Starlets were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on Sunday  afternoon in the first leg of their FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Second Round qualifier, setting up a decisive return clash in Nairobi next week.

The Starlets could not have asked for a better start. Barely 37 seconds into the contest, Kenya stunned the home crowd with a lightning-fast counterattack.

 Captain Fasila Adhiambo unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box, forcing the Ethiopian goalkeeper into a desperate save. But the rebound fell kindly for Elizabeth Mideva, who reacted quickest to slot the ball into the net and give Kenya a dream 1-0 lead.

Kenya continued to press, using their pace on the flanks to trouble the Ethiopian defense, but the hosts gradually grew into the match.

 The Rising Starlets’ backline, marshaled by Elizabeth Ochaka, held firm throughout much of the first half, while goalkeeper Christine Adhiambo made several key interventions to keep Ethiopia at bay.

The breakthrough for the home side came in the 65th minute, after sustained pressure. Ethiopia’s Daniel Emush took a speculative effort from distance, and while it seemed manageable, a misjudgment from Christine Adhiambo saw the ball slip through her grasp and into the net, levelling the score at 1-1.

The equaliser injected life into the Ethiopian attack, and the hosts pushed for a winner in the final quarter of the game. 

Kenya, however, showed resilience, with solid defending and quick counterattacks that kept the tie balanced until the final whistle.

With the draw, the tie remains delicately poised ahead of the second leg in Nairobi at the Ulinzi Sports Complex next weekend.

 The Rising Starlets will fancy their chances at home, buoyed by the away goal and local support, as they chase a historic place in the next round of the qualifiers.

More to follow...