Jonah Ayunga and Richard Odada, both key members of the Harambee Stars, had contrasting experiences in the Scottish Premier League on Sunday afternoon. Ayunga played a cameo role for St Mirren, coming off the bench for 27 minutes in their 2-1 defeat against Dundee, while Odada watched from the sidelines as Dundee United triumphed 1-0 over Aberdeen.
Ayunga, who has struggled for consistency this season, was unable to turn the tide for St Mirren, who were outplayed by Dundee. The Kenyan forward has only scored once in the league so far, and his brief appearance in the match didn’t significantly alter the course of the game. Despite his decent passing accuracy, Ayunga’s efforts were not enough to prevent his team from succumbing to defeat. Dundee’s Simon Murray was the standout player of the match, scoring twice to help his side end a three-match losing streak in the Premiership.
Murray’s first goal came after a missed opportunity, where his close-range shot was cleared off the line by St Mirren’s Alex Iacovitti. Undeterred, he quickly made amends, heading home a precise cross from Josh Mulligan just two minutes later. St Mirren responded well, with Toyosi Olusanya scoring a well-taken header from Elvis Bwomono’s cross to equalize in the 23rd minute. However, Dundee’s dominance in the second half, combined with Murray’s clinical finishing, saw them clinch all three points. In the 66th minute, Murray completed his brace, heading in a cross from Ryan Astley to seal the win for Dundee.
Meanwhile, Richard Odada was an unused substitute as Dundee United secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Aberdeen at Tannadice Park. The match was a tense and high-paced affair, with both teams creating chances but struggling to break the deadlock. The first half saw exceptional performances from both goalkeepers, Jack Walton of Dundee United and Dimitar Mitov of Aberdeen, who pulled off remarkable saves to keep the score level. Walton produced a brilliant reflex save to deny Ester Sokler, while Mitov thwarted Glenn Middleton on two occasions, keeping the match scoreless at halftime.
After the break, both teams pushed forward in search of a breakthrough, with Dundee United’s Kristijan Trapanovski and Sam Dalby coming close to scoring. Aberdeen also had their moments, but the game remained goalless until the dying moments. In the 94th minute, Dundee United’s Will Ferry launched a long throw into the box, which found the head of Kevin Holt. Holt rose above the defenders to power the ball into the bottom corner of the net, securing a dramatic victory for his team. The win was vital for Dundee United, narrowing the gap between them and Aberdeen to just three points, and giving them renewed hope for the remainder of the season.
For both Ayunga and Odada, the weekend’s performances highlighted their contrasting fortunes in the Scottish Premiership. Ayunga will be looking to build on his performances and find greater consistency in the coming months, while Odada will be hoping for more opportunities to contribute to Dundee United’s success as they push for higher positions in the league. As 2025 approaches, both players will be eager to end the year on a high and continue making an impact for their respective clubs.
