Kenya put two past Swaziland

AN Edwin Lavatsa brace gave Kenya a 2-0 win over Swaziland yesterday and top place in Group B of the Cosafa Cup.

Lesotho netted in stoppage time to draw 3-3 with Botswana in a thrilling second half of a double-header in the Zambian town of Kitwe.

Jerome Ramatlhakwane scored a hat-trick for Botswana at the Arthur Davies Stadium, but Thabelo Tale levelled on 93 minutes for Lesotho, many of whose stars were playing a third game in as many days.

Kenya top the table with four points going into the final round of group matches today.

Lesotho and Botswana have two points each and are also in contention for first place and a quarterfinal date with former winners Angola.

Swaziland cannot finish first, but could decide who does as they face Lesotho in Lusaka while Kenya and Botswana square up in Kitwe.

After domestic league fixtures two days ago, Kenya came from two goals behind to hold Lesotho 2-2 Monday.

Fears that three matches in three days would take its toll proved unfounded as they were far too strong for the limited Swazis.

Lavatsa struck after just five minutes on a warm, clear midwinter afternoon in the heart of the Zambian copper-mining region.

Racing on to a through pass, he stabbed the ball past on-rushing goalkeeper Nhlanhla Gwebu, star of a 0-0 weekend draw with Botswana.

A Lavatsa volley into the corner of the net nine minutes after half-time confirmed the Harambee Stars’ supremacy.

Namibia won Group A Monday by coming from behind twice to defeat the Seychelles 4-2 at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

The Brave Warriors face depleted South Africa in a last-eight line-up completed by titleholders Zimbabwe against Malawi and Zambia against Mozambique. –