Kenyan international Johnstone Omurwa faced a challenging debut for Abha FC in the Saudi King’s Cup, as they were eliminated by Al Taawoun after a 3-2 loss in extra time.
Despite putting in a decent shift on defense, Omurwa’s crucial mistake led to a goal for the opposition, dampening his first outing for the club.
However, there were positives as Omurwa made three clearances, one interception, and three key passes during the 120 minutes he spent on the pitch.
This early exit from the cup will be a tough pill to swallow for Omurwa, but he has a chance to regroup as Abha FC returns to league action.
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Johnstone Omurwa joined Saudi Arabia’s Abha FC earlier this month after a stint with Portuguese club Estrela da Amadora.
His much-anticipated debut, however, ended in disappointment as Abha FC was knocked out of the King’s Cup in the Round of 32 by Al Taawoun. Omurwa played the entire match, including extra time, but it was a night of mixed performances for the Kenyan defender.
In the early stages of the game, Omurwa was heavily involved in Abha’s defensive efforts, contributing with key clearances and interceptions.
However, his mistake in the second half led to a crucial goal for Al Taawoun. In the 21st minute, Al Taawoun took the lead when Brazilian midfielder Flavio headed in from a corner, but the referee disallowed the goal for offside.
Shots from the game pic.twitter.com/L6s3gnYk5x
— AbhaFc_EN (@Abhafc_english) September 25, 2024
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Just moments later, Omurwa’s failed clearance allowed Edson Álvarez to pounce, and his shot deflected off Omurwa’s teammate Jarell Quansah, resulting in an own goal.
Abha struggled to gain control of the match but received a lifeline in the dying moments of regular time. A foul on Abdulelah Alshamary was confirmed by VAR, and Ahmed Abdoh Jaber converted the penalty to send the game into extra time.
Unfortunately for Omurwa and Abha, Al Taawoun regained control in extra time. Goals from Joao Pedro and Mohammed Al Kuwayikibi secured the win for Al Taawoun, despite a late consolation goal by Jaber.
He will now focus on helping Abha FC bounce back in their upcoming Saudi Pro League match against Al Faisaly on October 1st.
In stark contrast to his challenging debut, Kenyan trialist Alfred Scriven continued his stellar form for Norwegian side Bryne FK.
Scriven played a crucial role in Bryne’s 3-2 comeback win over Sogndal in the Norwegian First Division on Wednesday, further solidifying his importance to the team.
Sogndal took an early lead in the second minute when Per Egil Flo scored, but Scriven quickly responded. Just a minute later, Scriven won the ball in midfield and provided an assist for Sanel Bojadzic, who equalized to make it 1-1.
Sogndal briefly restored their lead in the 19th minute, but Bryne responded once again, with Duarte Moreira scoring five minutes later.
Lasse Qvigstad’s goal in the 28th minute gave Bryne FK the lead for the first time in the match, and they held on for a crucial victory.
Scriven’s contributions in both defense and attack have been key to Bryne’s successful push for promotion.
Bryne’s win over Sogndal moved them to second place in the Norwegian First Division standings, just nine points behind league leaders Valerenga with six games to play.
Scriven’s continued involvement will be critical for Bryne FK as they aim for promotion to Norway’s top tier next season.
Elsewhere in Europe, Kenyan under-20 midfielder Stanley Wilson was an unused substitute as his team AIK secured a 1-0 win over Sirius in the Swedish top tier.
AIK’s sole goal came from Benjamin Hansen, who found the back of the net to lift his team to third in the league standings. AIK’s win puts them in a strong position, but they still trail league leaders Malmo by 11 points.
In South Africa, Harambee Stars defender Brian Mandela Onyango also spent time on the bench as Stellenbosch earned an emphatic 3-0 victory over Cape Town City in the South African Premier Soccer League.
Andre de Jong, Fawaaz Basadien, and Sanele Barns were the scorers for Stellenbosch, who now sit in 10th place on the league table after two games.
For Johnstone , the focus now shifts to the Saudi Pro League, where Abha FC will look to improve their domestic form after their King’s Cup exit.
Omurwa will need to shake off his difficult debut and demonstrate his defensive strength as Abha takes on Al Faisaly on October 1st.
The Saudi Pro League presents another platform for the former Mathare United defender to prove his worth in a highly competitive environment.
Meanwhile, Alfred Scriven’s rise continues to be a positive story for Kenyan football. As Bryne FK battles for promotion in Norway, Scriven’s impressive performances, including his crucial assist in the 3-2 win over Sogndal, will be key in helping his team secure a top-tier spot for next season.
Stanley Wilson and Brian Mandela Onyango will be looking to break into their respective teams’ starting lineups in the coming matches, as AIK and Stellenbosch both continue their league campaigns.
