The Junior Starlets showcased a dominant performance, defeating Valencia CF Women 4-1 in a friendly match on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at the Ciudad Deportiva del València CF grounds.

Valerie Nekesa opened the scoring in the 9th minute after receiving a perfectly timed pass from Halima Imbachi. Nekesa doubled the lead in the 26th minute with a clever finish, catching the goalkeeper off her line.

Just before halftime, Lindey Weey Atieno added a third goal for the Starlets, calmly slotting home after a precise pass from Lornah Faith. The Junior Starlets went into the break with a 3-0 lead.

In the second half, Atieno struck again in the 50th minute, converting a well-executed set piece to make it 4-0. Valencia CF Women pulled one back through an 88th-minute penalty, but the match ended with a comfortable 4-1 victory for the Starlets.

The Junior Starlets will now prepare for upcoming friendly matches against Portugal on September 27 and Intercity on September 30, as they continue fine-tuning their tactics ahead of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.

These friendly games are crucial in building match fitness and sharpening strategies ahead of the Junior Starlets’ World Cup debut in the Dominican Republic, starting on October 16, 2024, and running until November 3, 2024. In the group stages, they will face England on October 18, Korea DPR on October 20, and Mexico on October 24.

ALSO READ:Kenyan midfielder Linton Maina encounters rowdy fans during live post-match TV interview