Kenya Sevens celebrate after beating Uruguay (C) NOC-K
A resilient Shujaa, playing extra-time with just six men, overcame Uruguay Sevens in a seesaw clash to register their first win at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games following a 19-14 victory in a 9th-12th play-off match played at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris, on Thursday evening.
Patrick Odongo was the hero for Kenya, running to the try line unchallenged after receiving the ball following a dogged and determined effort by Shujaa to retain the ball while under pressure from the South Americans.
The win now sets Kenya Sevens to play against Samoa in the play-off for the 9th position.
Kenya Sevens will be hoping for an improved performance againstnthe Samoans having lost 26-0 to them in their final Group B game.
The match will be played at the Stade de France on Saturday as the curtain closes on Rugby Sevens matches at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Despite the win, Shujaa did not start the well, falling behind early in the game after Uruguay made a try that was scored and converted by Juan Manuel Tafernaberry.
Kenya's effort to reduced the deficit were not encouraging as Shujaa were sloppy in possession, hence hindering any meaningful build up.
As such, Shujaa trailed 7-0 at halftime and when they finally made a breakthrough in the second half, it took individual brilliance from John Okoth.
Okoth, while in possession of the ball, outmuscled the sea of Uruguayan players that had surrounded to create a path for himself to the try line, which he charged to comfortably as his helpless opponents tried to catch up with him.
Captain Anthony Mboya converted the try to level the score at 7-7.
Mboya was on conversion duties a few minutes later, when from a line-out, Shujaa overpowered Uruguay to release Samuel Asati who easily dived over the try line. His effort and Mboya's accuracy combined to give Kenya a 14-7 lead.
However, just when it looked like Shujaa had got the job done, Okoth turned from hero to villain, as he was yellow-carded with seconds remaining on the clock, leaving Shujaa to play the remainder of the match with six men.
Uruguay, despite the clock running down fast, took advantage of their numerical advantage with Baltazar Amaya scoring a try which Guillermo Lijtenstein converted to level the score to 14-14 and force extra-time.
In extra-time, Kenya Sevens put a determined performance with a man less, repulsing the Uruguayans until a breakthrough who scored the try which sealed victory for Shujaa.
