Eric Johana Omondi efforts fall short as UTA Arad fail to clinch victory against U Cluj

STARS ABROAD Eric Johana Omondi efforts fall short as UTA Arad fail to clinch victory against U Cluj

Mark Kinyanjui 11:06 - 31.03.2024

Omondi, who was excommunicated from the Harambee Stars camp in the last international break, played the entire 90 minutes but could not help UTA prevent drawing against U Cluj.

Deposed Harambee Stars midfielder Eric Johana Omondi played the full 90 minutes but could not inspire UTA Arad to get the victory against U Cluj in a relegation mini-Romanian league clash that took place on Saturday night.

Omondi, who was sent packing by head coach Engin Firat for being involved in a brawl with Aboud Omar during the recent international break, did try to be front footed, but it was not enough to turn the draw into a win.

Omondi’s work off the ball was actually more outstanding as he won five of his six ground duels, and won his solitary aerial duel, but it was one of those matches where he could not create much, having touched the ball 41 times from the flanks.

Despite occupying the top two positions in the play-out standings, the clash between both sides did not reflect their respective positions on the table.

The game kicked off with U Cluj asserting their dominance, launching attacks and creating opportunities. 

However, their efforts were thwarted when Roguljic squandered a crucial scoring chance in the 13th minute, sending the ball over the goal. 

Despite their early control of the game, the "Red Caps" struggled to break the deadlock in the first half.

As the second half unfolded, UTA Arad showed resilience and attempted to capitalize on their chances.

 Omondi's shot was met with a save by Gertmonas, keeping U Cluj's goal intact. In a tense finale, U Cluj found themselves reduced to ten players, yet UTA Arad could not capitalize on their numerical advantage to secure a winning goal.

The match ended in a stalemate, highlighting the evenly matched nature of the encounter despite the disparity in league standings. Both teams showcased their determination and defensive prowess, ultimately settling for a share of the point.

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