Estonia recorded their first win on African soil in the history of the men’s national team after beating Kenya on penalties in the FIFA Series semi-finals at Stade Amahoro in Kigali on Friday, following a 1-1 draw in regular time.
In a tie between two sides with little recent experience of one another, Estonia were the better team in the first half before Kenya grew into the match after the break. Clear chances were limited throughout and the game often lacked rhythm, with Kenya repeatedly looking for crosses that too often drifted beyond everyone in the penalty area.
Estonia took the lead from a set piece. Kevor Palumets delivered the ball in from a corner and midfielder Tanel Tammik marked his debut with a headed goal, giving Jürgen Henn’s side an advantage they protected into the second half.
Kenya responded more strongly after the interval and gradually took control of the game territorially. The East Africans finished with 58% possession, eight shots to Estonia’s three, and five corners to one, while Estonia registered the only goal from their single shot on target in regular time.
The match became increasingly physical in the closing stages. A series of heavy Kenya challenges broke up play and Estonia may have felt there could have been more punishment from the referee, who produced only one yellow card despite several robust fouls as the game turned scrappy over the final 20 minutes.
Kenya had a good chance to win it in the 83rd minute, but Estonia survived and almost found a winner of their own five minutes later. There was still time for one final opening in stoppage time, only for Vladislav Kreida to send a free-kick wide and high in the 95th minute. With the score level after normal time, the competition rules sent the semi-final directly to a penalty shootout.
Estonia went first. Erko Tõugjas converted, Odhiambo replied for Kenya, and then Ioan Yakovlev was denied by goalkeeper Otieno. Karl Vallner responded immediately by saving Bajaber’s effort, and that kept Estonia level in the contest. Michael Schjønning-Larsen and Alex Tamm both scored for Estonia, while Ouma and Erambo did the same for Kenya. Rauno Sappinen then converted off the crossbar, and Omondi kept Kenya alive even though Vallner got a touch to the ball.
That took the shootout into sudden death. Markus Soomets scored for Estonia, and when Odada missed Kenya’s next penalty, the northernmost Baltic nation were through.
Estonia will next play winners of Rwanda and Grenada match on Monday, the 30th of March.
This was only the second time the Estonian men’s national team had played in Africa. The previous occasion came in Cairo in 2001, when Estonia drew 3-3 with Egypt in a match remembered for goals from Andres Oper, Marko Kristal and Kristen Viikmäe.
