Kenya (6) v (2) Chile

By Tim Beissmann

Kenya rose to the top of Group G with their 6-2 win over Chile at the Yarra Pitch on the third day of competition.

The Kenyans peppered the net early with strong and searching strikes, and despite the best efforts of the Chilean keeper, bagged two goals in a minute.

The Africans were strong in defence too, as the Chileans fired in fast shots that forced the keeper to produce three sensational dives.

Chilean Felipe Antonio Orellana Vilchez was busy in defence and determined to deny his opponents the ball, but was undone when John Njoroge slammed home his first to take a 3-0 lead.

Chile needed to reply and did so immediately through Emmanuel Eduardo Angulo Martinez, who had looked dangerous all day, and slapped it home from the half way line.

Some tricky back-heel and dummy footwork by the Kenyans was not fooling the Chilean keeper Fidel Amando Vargas, who kept the half-time score to 3-1 in favour of the Kenyans.

The opening of the second half was tense with both sides playing one-on-one and performing strongly in defence.

A corner to the Kenyans in the fifth minute gave Elijah Njegu Kariuki his first which was closely followed by another to take the score to 5-1.

The frustration was obvious in the winless Chileans, and Carlos Amador Torres Garrido lost the plot, receiving a red card for abusing the referee and leaving his team one player down.

Despite the lack of numbers, Chile’s star forward Angulo Martinez still managed to salvage some pride by slotting through the final goal of the game.

Photos: Photoworx