Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers‎ : Kenya 2-1 Angola (video)

Kenya's national soccer team, Harambee Stars, defeated Angola 2-1 to move second in Group J at the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Saturday.It was a bitter lovable day for Inter Milan midfielder MacDonald Mariga who scored the winner in the 89th minute but was immediately sent off after receiving a second yellow card for taking off his shirt in the celebration that ensued at the Nyayo National Stadium. After a loss and a draw in the their opening two matches, Harambee Stars needed a win to keep their slim hopes of qualification alive and they got it in a thrilling match in Nairobi coming from behind to beat the Palancas Negras. The Black Antelopes prolific striker Mateus Manucho had broken the deadlock in the 20th minute with a rifling shot from inside the box past a hapless Arnold Origi in Kenya's goal after receiving a fine pass from Djalma Campos. Manucho who took advantage of lax Stars defending and chipped over the onrushing home keeper Arnold Origi. But Stars substitute Jamal Mohamed tied the game at 1-1 three minutes after coming on in the second half to give the home side something to feed on after being pressurized by the Antelopes for most of the afternoon. The East African nation's team started its African Cup of Nations campaign on a bad note as they had not scored even a single goal in two matches played so far and it was something the coach was determined to change when Angola come calling. The team's striking force had been blunt with not a single goal scored in the last two qualification matches and Otieno admits it is a concern. In Saturday' s match, the hosts showed buoyancy fighting back and the introduction of Mohammed and Victor Mugabe in the 50th minute brought more pressure that bore fruit five minutes later as Mohammed who plies his trade with Kazma in the Kuwait league pounced on a rebound to shoot past Luis Jaoa and make it 1-1 "This is a great day for me and I thank God. The players were definitely at their best and we deserved the win," said Harambee Stars Coach Zedekiah Otieno who could not hide his joy celebrating his first win for the national side. "We lost our chances and Harambee stars came back fighting hard they deserved the win," said Otieno's counterpart Lito Vidigal. The team reached the final of this year' s Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) which must have given them plenty of experience coming into Saturday's fixture. Stars Coach relied on his European contingent led by Captain Dennis Oliech and Mariga as well as Johana Omollo, Mohamed, Dennis Odhiambo and Victor Mugabe but will missed the services of speedy Patrick Oboya who was not released by his team Trinec in time. In defence, Zico went for local players who have shown stability led by James Situma, Edgar "Fighter" Ochieng, Joseph Shikokoti while South African based Dennis Odhiambo started in the left back position. Angola had their own legion of foreign based players led by former Manchester United player Manucho, Flavio,Ze kalanga as coach Vidigal had an array of players in the field.