Argentina pip Shujaa in nervy Dubai 7s match

Alvin Otieno

Shujaa"s Alvin Otieno (right) makes a try against Morans during their semi-final match at the Safari Sevens at Nyayo National Stadium on October 31, 2021.

Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • Luciano Gonzalez opened the scoring with a try in the third minute after evading three tackles from Shujaa to land at the corner
  • Otieno, who has so far had a bad outing after errors against Mike Friday’s USA, pulled one try back for Shujaa 12-5 with less than 40 seconds left to half-time
  • German Schulz’s try at the corner with 53 seconds to fulltime drew the scores level 17-all

Kenya Shujaa are out of the Dubai Sevens Main Cup title race after slumping to their second straight defeat, 22-17 to Argentina in Pool “B” at The Sevens Stadium on Friday.

Shujaa looked hungrier than in their opening 14-7 loss to USA, managing to come from behind twice but could not hold on as the South Americans levelled at 17-17 before capitalising on Alvin “Buffa” Otieno's sin-bin to punish them at the death.

Luciano Gonzalez opened the scoring with a try in the third minute after evading three tackles from Shujaa to land at the corner. Gonzalez got his brace two minutes later with Santiago Vera Feld successfully converting for a 12-0 lead.

However, Otieno, who has so far had a bad outing after errors against Mike Friday’s USA, pulled one try back for Shujaa 12-5 with less than 40 seconds left to half-time.

Levy Amunga gave Kenya hope after equalising 12-12 with his own converted try just after resumption.

A forward pass by Argentina inside Shujaa’s half saved them from early pressure in the second half before Coach Innocent “Namcos” Simiyu’s men took the lead 17-12 with 4:30 left through Jeff Oluoch after receiving a pass from Otieno.

German Schulz’s try at the corner with 53 seconds to fulltime drew the scores level 17-all. Otieno was then sent to the sin-bin as Argentina piled pressure inside Kenya’s half and, with one man down, Shujaa could not stop Alvarez from scoring the winning try at the corner.

The loss came just minutes after Spain had thrown the group wide open by shocking USA 12-7.

Leaders Argentina are through to the quarter-final, with USA needing to beat them to book the remaining ticket.

Spain’s hopes of making the last-eight are much alive as they need to defeat Kenya to sail through if Argentina does them a favour against USA.

Kenya will end the day with a date against Spain at 4.02pm.

Shujaa last tasted victory against Spain in Dubai in 2012. After beating Spain 10-7 on November 30, 2012, Shujaa surrendered 26-19 on December 1, 2018 and 22-19 on December 6, 2019 against the same opponents.