Ulinzi’s 2017 CAF Confederation Cup campaign is over after a 4-3 aggregate loss to Smouha.
The soldiers defeated Smouha 3-0 in Machakos but it wasn’t enough to progress to the next round of the competition as the Egyptians advanced , following their 4-0 victory in Alexandria a week ago.
In temperatures of over 25 degrees celsius, Machakos Stadium was a cauldron of heat and noise, but it did nothing to dampen the spirits of the Ulinzi players as they attacked the Smouha penalty area with intensity from kick-off. Just after tenth minutes, their pressure paid off when right back Sammy Onyango put them ahead with a screamer that opponent goalie had no chance of stopping.
It was a goal that rattled the Egyptians and Ulinzi poured forward, looking for the crucial second and was easy to come when Sammy Onyango scored the second minutes before the half time whistle sounded.
In the second forty-five, Smouha stepped up their game and denied the home side the spaces they enjoyed in the first half but Benjamin Nyangweso’s men, anxious to tripple their advantage continued pushing forward for even the forth goal.
Ulinzi went down to ten men on 55th minute when Kago was booked for the second offence.The determined soldiers showed their spirit to fight.
With 20 minutes to go Ulinzi showed their will to turn the tables when Omar Bongi hit the target to make it 3-0 .
Ulinzi would look back on Godfrey Kokoyo ‘s chance with particular pain, as the midfielder appeared to have handed them victory late in the second half, only to have his dipping shot tipped away by Smouha goalie.
The Egyptians resisted a late surge by Ulinzi and held on to progress in the competition despite their 3-0 away defeat. Their 4-0 victory in Alexandria proved enough to seem them past the former Kenya Premier League champions who were looking to go past the preliminary stages of the competition for the first time.
Ulinzi IX: James Saruni, Brian Birgen, Godfrey Kokoyo, Mohammed Hassan, Omar Mbongi, Boniface Onyango, Churchill Muloma, John Kago, Samuel Onyango, Evans Amwoka, Daniel Waweru
Subs: Finus Odhiambo, Benson Sande, Oliver Rutto, Enosh Ochieng, Oscar Wamalwa, Justine Omwonga, Baron Oketch
