Boniface Muchiri and Hillary Simiyu came off the bench to to inspire Ulinzi Stars comeback against National Super League side MCF at the ongoing Elite Pre-season Cup at the Kasarani Annex on Tuesday. MCF struck first through Tonny Nyangor but the Soldiers scored all their goals in the second half towards the end, with Muchiri striking twice, once from the spot, and Simiyu getting the other goal.Ulinzi Stars coach Bernard Mwalala was thankful to his players for staging a great comeback and fighting to the last minute.”I thank the boys for the showing until the last minute where we got three quick goals. I have only worked with them a couple of days but I can already see the fighting spirit in the team,” Mwalala said.His MCF counterpart MCF’s David Mahira rued concentration lapses in his side in the second half for the loss.”We played well in the first half but conceded in the second half due to some lapses. We had our first team in the first half but we made changes in the second period and that is why they seemed stronger than us in the second half,” Mahira said.##NAJAVA_MECA_6660739##Ulinzi Stars were intense in the opening minutes, but MCF grew into the game quickly and offered the most of threats in the game, with captain John Ochieng leading by example with a thunderous shot that went just inches wide. On resumption for the second half, Mwalala made changes as the experienced John Kago came on for Jacob Onyango with the soldiers eager to orchestate a comeback.Masita Masuta had a plethora of chances, but he squandered all of them, the most notable one being five minutes after the hour mark when he struck the post after dancing past the defenders, and with the keeper well beaten.With the clock quickly tickling, Mwalala went all out and brought in an attacking trio of Enosh Ochieng, Julius Nabutete, and Hillary Simiyu for Masita Masuta, Stephad Odhiambo, and Stephen Etyang.With five minutes left to play, Muchiri drew the Soldiers level with a well taken freekick.Muchiri and Nabutete stood over the ball at an area that seemed to favor the left footed striker as opposed to the former Tusker FC wing wizard. However, it was Muchiri who struck it, with his effort coming off the post on its way to the net. Punter wins KES.28,772 on Mozzart BetThree minutes later, Simiyu scored to give Ulinzi the lead for the first time in the game after being let through by Muchiri.It did not take long for Ulinzi to add a third as Muchiri grabbed his second from the spot, Ulinzi’s third after Ochieng’ had been brought down in the box, and Muchiri sealed the win with the last strike of the game.MCF Starting XI: Charles Okeyo, Lancelot Wambua, Gideon Abucheri, Ronny Katumanga, George Amayo, Alfred Maningi, John Ochienf, Kevin Omondi, Ian Mutanda, Erik Michubu, Tonny NyangorSubs: Gofrey Were, Omar Adisa, Patrick Koech, Collins Onyango, Joshua Mungiro, Abudi Khamisi, Ate Samwel, Geoffrey Aluala, Alvin Wafula, Boaz Mahora, Isak Aleji, Marcus Jairo, Ismail AbdalaUlinzi Stars Starting XI: Stephen Odhiambo, Swaleh Chacha, Shannel Makwatta, Andai Boniface, Muchika Bonventure, Ongoma Benard, Jacob Onyango, Stephen Etyang, Clinton Omondi, Stephad Odhiambo, Masita MasutaSubs: James Saruni, Ali Swaleh, Antonio Abwao, Masinde Alex, John Kago, Vincent Ambetsa, Enosh Ochieng, Boniface Muchiri, Elvis Nandwa, Hillary Simiyu
