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The forward's Maidstone pulled yet another upset as they dumped Ipswich United out of the FA Cup.
Harambee Stars prospect Solomon Wanjau-Smith’s Maidstone United continued to cause more shocks as they dumped English Football League (EFL) Championship side Ipswich Town out of the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Wanjau-Smith was, unfortunately, missing after picking up an injury during their third-round win over Stevenage, but is now set to play in the fifth round, a huge achievement.
“I told the boys they had to help me out, boy did they deliver,” Wanjau-Smith wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.
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09:17 - 31.12.2023
FEATURE Solomon Wanjau-Smith: English-born Kenyan striker who hopes to make it big through an unconventional path
Inspired by his father's Kenyan roots, Solomon Wanjau-Smith has gone from helping minnows Maidstone to FA Cup heroics and now dreams of playing for Harambee Stars
The sixth-tier side sit almost 100 places below their opponents in the English pyramid and few gave them a chance of avoiding defeat against Ipswitch
Maidstone needed to thank keeper Lucas Covolan who was outstanding as he made a series of saves to prevent them from conceding before they scored their opening goal through Lamar Reynolds with what was their first attempt at goal.
Ipswich restored parity through Jeremy Sarmiento’s second-half equaliser for the team sitting second in the Championship.
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15:00 - 27.01.2024
FOOTBALL Kenyan defender helps keep yet another Premier League club at bay in FA Cup fourth round
Onyego looked assured yet again as he helped Bristol City earn a Fourth Round FA Cup Replay against Nottingham Forest.
But Maidstone rocked Ipswich again by reclaiming the lead through Sam Corne’s composed finish to achieve the most unlikely of victories.
Wanjau-Smith kicked off Maidstone’s FA Cup campaign with a hat-trick in a 4-1 second qualifying round win at Steyning back in September.
They have won six matches to reach the fourth round proper, also seeing off Winchester, Torquay, Chesham, and Barrow before beating League One promotion hopefuls Stevenage.
For Wanjau-Smith, a place in the last 32 was an extraordinary achievement given his background in the competition, but the fact that they have made the Round of 16 is now even more commendable.
“I’ve played for teams that don’t even get in the FA Cup and I’ve played in the extra preliminary round,” he said as quoted on Kent Online.
“Craig Fagan (Maidstone assistant) didn’t even know it existed, the preliminary round, let alone the extra preliminary round, so it’s absolutely massive to get this far.
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19:31 - 13.01.2024
STARS ABROAD English-born Kenyan striker reveals how Harambee Stars left back inspired him
Both Wanjau-Smith and Harper used to play with each other for Cribbs, in the ninth tier of English football, but Harper has since broken into the EFL for Exeter in League One.
“I think the first round proper was the biggest game of my career so to be in the fourth round, it’s crazy.”
Although born and raised in England. Wanjau-Smith has already declared he would be open to a Harambee Stars call-up in future.
Follow our Pulse Sports WhatsApp channel for more updates.
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