Dethroned champions Simba left it too late before thrashing Ruvu Shooting 3-1 in the Mainland Premier League at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Ruvu Shooting and Simba players scramble for the ball as Ruvu’s goalkeeper Benjamin Haule lies on the turf during their Premier League encounter at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday. Simba won 3-1. (Photo by Mohamed Mambo)
Quick late goals from second half substitutes Edward Christopher and Rashid Ismail were enough to silence Ruvu Shooting, who were on the verge of a draw with the former champions after Abdulrahman Mussa had succeeded to cancel out Amir Kiemba’s opener.
The result moved Simba above Kagera Sugar into third place, having reached 42 points from 24 games. They are six points adrift of second-placed Azam FC in their battle for an ‘unlikely’ CAF Confederation Cup spot. Ruvu Shooting remain seventh on the table with 31 points after 24 outings.
The match was earlier set for April 26 at the same venue but the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) postponed it to Sunday, to allow the government to use the venue to prepare for the ‘Union Day’ celebrations.
Simba coach Patrick Liewig made three changes to the side that defeated Polisi Morogoro 2-1 on April 28. Abel Dhaira, Haruna Shamte and Felix Sunzu replaced Juma Kaseja, Miraji Adam and Mrisho Ngassa respectively.
Mkwasa, meanwhile, named his strongest squad with Benjamin Haule, Michael Pius, Said Madega, Hassan Dilunga, Abdulrahman Musa, Said Dilunga and Raphael Kayala among the starters. The Msimbazi Street giants dominated the proceedings from the word go and made a breakthrough after 14 minutes through stylish, in-form midfielder Amir Kiemba, who unleashed a stunning effort from outside the area after being set-up by Kapombe.
Zambian striker Sunzu nearly doubled his side’s advantage soon after with a powerful header that struck against the woodwork following a perfectly weighed-up cross from Kiemba.
Ruvu Shooting were struggling to cope with the pace of Simba and had Sunzu’s profligacy in front of goal to thank after the Reds striker failed to convert a good chance on 29 minutes. Haruna Chanongo drew a fine save from Haule, with a decent effort from outside the box for an abortive corner and the former Yanga custodian made a few more crucial saves.
Simba struggled to build on their advantage by wasting a number of good opportunities and went into the break with just a onegoal lead. Liewig had apparently seen enough from Sunzu in the first 45 minutes and opted to retire the towering hitman on resumption in favour of mercurial winger Mrisho Ngassa.
But it was Ruvu Shooting who made the perfect start when they were given a helping hand by Simba’s defensive lapse that allowed Mussa to pull the game back into level terms. Shooting were now in the ascendancy and waged a few dangerous attacks with substitute Ayoub Kitala always seemingly their spark.
Ruvu Shooting looked far more assertive after going level with substitutes Kulwa Mfaume and Ayoub Kitala both playing lively against a stern opposition defence, with the latter showing their brightest spark throughout.
Simba made another change by replacing Ramadhani Singano with Christopher Edward on 70 minutes. Simba were back in control and left it late before sealing the victory thanks to quickfire goals from Edward and late substitute Ismail.
All eyes will now be on the closing day of the season when the country’s most fancied teams Simba and Yanga face off at the state-of-the-art National Stadium. Revenge, pride and bragging rights will be at stake when the two most fancied and oldest clubs clash in the closing round of the 2012/13 league season.
Yanga have spent the current season contemplating vengeance for the 5-0 demolition they suffered at the hands of their sworn rivals in the corresponding fixture last season.
Source Tanzania Daily News
