CSKA Moscow midfielder Ivan Oblyakov scored in the 89th minute as Russia battled to a 2-2 draw with Kenya’s Harambee Stars in an international friendly match played in Antalya, Turkey on Monday night.
Stars had come from a goal down to lead 2-1 at halftime with goals from Anthony ‘Teddy’ Akumu and Masud Juma, but a last minute surge by the Russians bore fruit as they scraped for a draw.
It was the last friendly match for head coach Engin Firat and his technical bench ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers which are scheduled for November, with Kenya faced with back to back away trips to Gabon and Seychelles.
The tactician used a similar squad to the one that played against Qatar and South Sudan last month, save for right back Daniel Anyembe who missed after his club refused to release him as well as forward Elvis Rupia who was not considered for the game.
In Anyembe’s place, Amos Nondi played on the right side of defense while there was a debut for Gor Mahia’s Rooney Onyango, who played further upfield as an offensive.
The Russians started well and Alexander Sobolev gave them a 1-0 lead inside eight minutes.
Opening goal for Russia
Sobolev scored the opener for the Russians with a side-footed finish beyond keeper Bryne Odhiambo, after defender Joseph Okumu’s short pass at the back was intercepted by Maksim Mukhin who fed it to the striker to score.
Stars had to make an early change with keeper Bryne coming off injured and was replaced by Patrick Matasi after 13 minutes.
Stars equalized in the 15th minute thanks to some good tight press from Akumu. The midfielder had rushed in to win the ball off Dimitry Barinov who had picked a pass from his keeper. Akumu then fed skipper Michael Olunga but his shot was blocked.
He was well placed to pick the rebound and burry it into the net.
Juma then doubled the tally for Kenya in the 37th minute with a finish unmarked inside the box after Georgiy Dzihikiya’s defensive header fell brilliantly into his path.
Olunga with golden chance
Olunga should have given Kenya the third goal with two chances. First, he was put through by a well weighted deep pass from Richard Odada, but his attempt at dinking past the keeper on his weaker right foot saw the effort bounce just wide.
In added time, he was picked out by a cross from the left, but his glancing header went straight to the keeper’s arms.
In the second half, Stars were brighter starters and just five minutes in should have had a third goal when Olunga was put through by Akumu, but the skipper’s shot went wide.
But, after the hour mark, the Russians began to be more intense upfront with their coach making changes to add more fire to their striking. They came close when Daler Kuzyaev struck a volley at the edge of the box but it flew straight to Matasi.
Their pressure bore fruit in the 89th minute when Oblyakov tapped in from the edge of the six yard box, picking up a well weighted cutback from the right.
