Masinde Muliro shock Nondies to kick off Kenya Cup with win

 

Isaiah Mulongo of MMUST (with ball) in action against Nondies in a Kenya Cup match played in Kakamega.[Washington Onyango, Standard]

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology came from behind to defeat Nondies 24-15 in an entertaining Kenya Cup match played at MMUST Grounds on Saturday.

Gibson Perez, Isaiah Mulongo and Paul Odongo all crossed over as the university students shocked Nondies in what was their first meeting in Kenya Cup. The students were handed a 24-0 walkover win last season after a no show by Nondies.

In the match, MMUST started on the wrong foot after conceding early penalty which Fidens Tony scored to hand the visitors an early 3-0 lead.

Tony would return to haunt the hosts again after crossing over to give the visitors an early 8-0 lead. His attempt to convert his own try went wide.

With the match favoring Nondies, the hosts woke up minutes before the break after Perez crossed over and Nobert Lumbwani converted to cut the gap to a point as MMUST trailed 8-7. 

In the final half, Nondies once again got off to a bright restart after stretching their lead further through Kennedy Wanyoike’s converted try to lead 15-7.

MMUST’s comeback fight was then initiated by Byron Ogada’s penalty before Mulongo and Odongo made Nondies pay with late tries to seal a 24-15 win.

Speaking after the match, MMUST assistant coach John Asila said they are still working on their match fitness levels and promised much more from his players.

“We started the match poor but am very happy with the way we did not give up. The response from the boys in the second half was excellent and I believe we still have much more to offer in the coming games,” said Asila.