The COPA Coca-Cola U-16 football Nairobi region quarterfinals posted mixed results as defending regional champions Upper Hill stamped authority with a 4 -1 victory over their worthy opponents Dandora Secondary School at Lenana School.
Andrew Teddy of Upper Hill opened the scoring with Jumu Joshua equalizing for Dandora. In the second half, Upper Hill came guns blazing and scored two goals in the 64th minute through Budi Erick as Gona Boku in jersey number 7 sealed a semifinal place for Upper Hill.
“The boys are prepared for the team that we will face in the semis, their morale is high and this win has given them the impetus to win,” said Upper Hill Coach Gilbert Walusibi.
Langata High School also made their intentions known after cruising past hosts Lenana School with a 4-2 win. Lenana will have themselves to blame after failing to capitalize a 2-1 lead until the 87th minute. Langata made a dream comeback to win the match through Mubuan Bur heart-trick and William Chemimir fourth goal that was caused by a defense blunder.
In the girls category, Dagoreti Mixed Secondary School mauled Starehe Girls High School 9-0 to book a place in the Nairobi region semi-finals through Purity Dobister in the 2nd minute after the kickoff, following a floppy move by the Starehe center-back, a minute later jersey number 11 Selphine Buchete made it two goals.
Dagoreti’s Asuga Peris dribbled past Starehe defense to score the third goal in the 6th minute. Joyline Orome scored a hattrick of the day as she easily weaved through the Starehe defense line. Joy Kanja’s double in the 30th and 35th minute and Mary Atieno’s in the 70th minute sealed the fate for Starehe Girls High School Under-16 team.
Highridge Secondary School shot to the semis with an emphatic 5-1 score against Ruai Secondary School. Highridge might just have the fastest score of the tournament after hitting the net within 30 seconds. Yvette Nyawire opened the scoring for Highridge then followed with another at the 6 th minute.
At Dagoreti, Olympic Girls were defending their regional title up against OLM, they won the match 5-1.
At the same time, Pangani Girls sailed through to the semis after seeing off BuruBuru Girls 2-1 at Dagoreti High School. Dagoreti Boys High School sealed their semis place after an emphatic 2-0 win over Ofafa Jericho Secondary School.
Waylight will faceoff with Dagoreti High School after winning their quarterfinals fixture against Uhuru 2-0.
The tournament enters day two on Friday with the semifinals as it seeks to establish Nairobi representatives for the National games to be held in Kisumu.