Holders Young Africans maintained their slow recovery in the Mainland Premier League title defence campaign with a 2-0 win over Mtibwa Sugar at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Young Africans striker Hamisi Kiiza fights for the ball with Mtibwa Sugar midfielder Shaban Nditi as Didier Kavumbagu and Dickson Daud (background) prepare to help during their Premier League soccer match at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam
Mrisho Ngassa scored his first league goal since making a sensational return to Yanga from arch-rivals Simba at the end of last season and Burundian striker Didier Kavumbagu scored the other goal for Yanga. It was an end to end duel from the kick off as both teams sought an early goal.
Four minutes into play Yanga threatened when Ngassa exchanged passes with Ugandan striker Hamisi Kiiza but the latter chipped inches wide. Ngassa put Yanga ahead after just six minutes when he raced into a brilliant long ball by Athumani Idd ‘Chuji’, cleverly controlled the ball and beat defender Salvatory Ntebe to the ball to unleash a power packed shot that left keeper Hussein Sharrif sprawling on the turf.
Ngassa proved to be an all important asset for his new team, which moved up second on 12 points, just three shy of leaders Simba SC. The diminutive winger had a lot of running, lots of creation in the final third of the pitch. He had been very unselfish providing a clever assist for Kavumbagu to net the second in the 24th minute. The Burundian easily tapped in a cross from Ngassa, who was allowed to race into another long ball from ‘Chuji’ down the right before releasing a wonderful low cross in.
Mtibwa, who were completely outplayed, outthought and outfought by Yanga in the first half, threatened after half an hour mark when Vincent Barnabas rose above defenders to head a cross from the left but he narrowly missed the target.
Then, winger Simon Msuva squandered an unbelievable chance to put Yanga three up in the 38th minute when he latched onto a pass from Kavumbagu but keeper Sharrif produced a reflexive save to deny Yanga. Ernie Brandts’ side continued to pour forward and Ngassa pounced on a rebound from Dickson Daundi’s clearance header two minutes before the break but his point black shot was brilliantly collected by the otherwise impressive keeper.
A minute later, Kiiza floated a good cross deep inside the area and Kavumbagu arrived to connect with a snap shot but couldn’t find the target. The match ended 2-0 at the break. After the restart, Mtibwa came out an improved side and former Simba strikers Mussa Hassan ‘Mgosi’ and Shaaban Kisiga gave Yanga defenders a hard time but they stood firm to shut them out.
The introduction of Nizar Khalfan for Msuva slowed Yanga movements upfront as Mtibwa largely dominated. Mtibwa went close when striker Kisiga latched onto a pass from Awadhi Juma inside the box but keeper Ali Mustafa quickly cleared the danger. Substitute Masoud Mohamed also gave Yanga defenders a torrid second half.
He floated a cross in but another substitute Juma Liuzio failed to make contact with the ball. From then the ball swung from side to side and Khalfan fluffed with a chance deep in the second half. Mtibwa’s Juma Awadh also missed from a sitter in the final minute as Yanga celebrations for the maximum points mounted.
In another match yesterday, Mbeya’s Prisons beat hosts Mgambo JKT 1-0 at the Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga. The lone goal was netted by Peter Michael in the 62nd minute.
Source Tanzania Daily News
