TOKYO 2020: Disappointment for Shujaa as USA get lucky

The Kenya national rugby 7s team, Shujaa were left frustrated in their Tokyo 2020 Olympics opening pool C match after the USA narrowly edged them 19-14 at the Tokyo Stadium early on Monday morning.

Coming into their second Olympic tournament after Rio 2016, Shujaa were still in search of their maiden win in the Olympic event after they had lost all of their three group games back in Brazil.

It was not however not the start that the Innocent 'Namcos' Simiyu-led team would have wanted in the game as they stacked up a number of penalty offenses on the breakdown and mainly on the tackle area to gift USA possession back cheaply.

Three minutes in, the fastest man in rugby, Carlin Isles found himself in acres of space after a scrum and he punished one of the many penalties Shujaa conceded to give USA a 5-0 lead following an unsuccessful conversion.

The USA came charging again and after a spirited but irresolute defending from the red stripes of Kenya, Martin Iosefo crossed over the whiteline for USA’s second try of the game that took the score to 12-0 after captain Madison Hughes successfully converted.

With fifteen seconds to go before half time and USA looking determined to start pulling away, Nelsoo Oyoo broke on the left wing and took out two USA players with a lovely offload to Kenya’s top try scorer Collins Injera who tipped the ball expertly into his path before crossing over for Kenya’s first try that was converted to get the game at 12-7 by half time.

With momentum and ascendancy in their side coming out for the second half, Jeff Oluoch, fresh from the bench powered through the USA defence and picked up seven to give Kenya a narrow 12-14 lead.

The game would have certainly been over with about two minutes to go when Willy Ambaka got on the end of an Eden Agero grabber but a last ditch title winning defensive tackle from the USA broke the play to snatch the win from Kenya's hands.

From the ensuing 5-meter scrum deep into their own territory, USA turned defence into attack with a blistering turn of pace as they broke free to find the third converted try that would break Kenya’s heart right at the death, the USA winning 19-14 in their opening encounter.

Up next for Kenya is a clash against South Africa who won their opening match against Ireland 33-19. The game takes place at 1300EAT.

Round One Full Results

Fiji 24-19 Japan

Great Britain 24-0 Canada

New Zealand 50-5 Korea

Australia 19-29 Argentina

South Africa 33-14 Ireland

USA 19-14 Kenya