Harambee Starlets Pay the Price for Their Mistakes as Australia Claim FIFA Series Glory

Harambee Starlets gave a good account of themselves but it was still not enough as they lost 2-0 to Australia in the FIFA Series final at Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday.

Starlets headed into the match knowing it would be a tough task and it turned out to be like that as the Matildas displayed why they are ranked 15th in the world.

However, it was Kenya who had the first opportunity when Shaylene Opisa saw her shot hit a defender in the early proceedings which woke up the Australians.

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In the 23rd minute, the visitors created danger when the revered Sam Kerr found herself in the box before a one-on-one with Starlets’ goalkeeper Lilian Awuor ensued but the Kenyan shot-stopper thwarted her with the ball going out for a corner.

However, from the corner, Awuor turned from hero to zero as Kerr took a tame shot after Kenya failed to clear the danger and the goalkeeper somehow saw the ball slip out of her hands and roll into the net.

It was a big mistake from one of the most experienced players in the Kenyan team and from there, her performance became shaky as she would struggle to keep hold of a couple of other opportunities from Australia.

Kenya then had another good opportunity when Fasila Adhiambo got in the Australia box but fired just wide and immediately after, Starlets should have drawn level.

The impressive Opisa weaved her way into the box and fired a thunderous strike which the Australia goalkeeper kept out with a great punch.

In the final minute of time added on in the first half, Adhiambo got herself in good space, one-on-one with the goalkeeper, and when the whole stadium expected her to score, she somehow hit the post with a low shot.

Australia tightened the screws after the break and should have scored the second goal two minutes after restart were it not for the timely intervention of Elizabeth Ochaka.

There was no stopping the Matildas, however, after 55 minutes when Caitlin Foord did some good work on the left wing before finding Clare Wheeler and the 28-year-old Everton star weaved her way past three players before slotting calmly past Awuor.

Australia then thought they had scored the third goal when Foord slotted in against the run of play but it was ruled out for offside as they protested what they thought was a genuine goal denied.

There were chances for Kenya to grab a consolation with Adhiambo shooting wide when she should have passed to a teammate and late in the game, Elizabeth Mideva had their best opportunity of the second half as she unleashed a shot from close range which Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold acrobatically kept out.

There was no breakthrough for Beldine Odemba’s charges as they lost 2-0 but with plenty of lessons as they look forward to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations set to take place in Morocco from July 25-August 18.