Iran beats Harambee Stars in a Friendly Match.

Harambee Stars on Tuesday night marked their official comeback to action when they were faced Iran at Azadi stadium in Tehran. Kenya battled Iran but unfortunately lost 2-1 to Iran.

Iran has now defeated Kenya in all the three meetings, they first clashed in a friendly match in Tehran on the April 21^st 1997, Iran winning 3 to 0. The two teams met again On the march 14^th 2009 in Tehran with the hosts winning by a solitary goal.

On Tuesday night, Stars were leading the match in the 50^th minute but all that changed when Mohammad Mohebbi and Ramin Rezaeian fired goals in the 76^th and 85^th minute respectively, after Stars’ goal keeper Patrick Matasi spilled a shot by Ramin. Iran started the match in an intense manner with flush attacks during the first 5 minutes.

Shahriyar Moghanlou almost scored during the match after placing the ball in the Stars box however, defender Joseph Okumu shielded Moghanlou before goalkeeper Matasi made it on time outside his area.

Former Kenya police player was in action again, clearing a corner kick before he calmly rescued a close range attempt from Mohammad Karimi.

Kenya managed to pull through Iran's score, when Moghanlou fired a shot to Matasi on nine minutes where he blocked the ball in his direction. Duke Abuya had a chance to make the first scoring attempt for the team but he unfortunately wasted his chance.

Another chance went to waste for the Stars when Olunga fired wide from a counter attack instead of passing the ball to either Abuya or Masud Juma.

During the 27^th minute of the first half a good opportunity was created for a score by the Stars where Juma passed the ball to Abuya, who was in Iran’s box, from the right but Abuya failed to beat Iran’s goal keeper Payam Niazmand.

A few minutes towards the end of the first half Juma dribbled the ball to the Iranian box but slipped and his close range shot went wide.

Resuming into the game, coach Firat made some changes by substituting Abuya with midfielder Kenneth Muguna who started off at a high note with a long range pass for Olunga.

Stars defender fired a shot with a close range left foot in the 50^th minute putting Kenya ahead after Iran’s defender failed to grab the ball from him.

The 60^th minute created a chance for Mohebbi but defender Amos Nondi, made a save just in time inside the Stars box. Okumu also denied the hosts an equalizer when he came to a rescue inside the box.

Mohebbi levelled up his team at the 75^th minute when he got a chance to execute a free kick which Rezaeian managed to score a goal 10 minutes later after Matasi’s blunder, hence Iran winning the match to a 2-1 score.