Holders Young Africans moved above archrivals Simba SC in the Mainland Premier League table following their 3-0 triumph over Mgambo JKT at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.
Young Africans striker Didier Kavumbagu goes airborne to head the ball during the Premier League soccer match against Mgambo JKT at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday. Yanga won 3-0. (Photo by Mohamed Mambo)
Following the victory, Yanga on 22 points moved third in the league table and cut the four point’s gap with leaders Azam FC to one, thanks to goals by Mbuyu Twite, Hamisi Kiiza and Didier Kavumbagu.
However, Yanga could not go above Mbeya City, who also recorded an emphatic 2-0 victory over Tanzania Prisons in a derby clash at the Sokoine Memorial Stadium on Tuesday.
At the National Stadium, Yanga commanded an easy victory against Mgambo JKT which helped them continue to put pressure on leaders Azam FC. The top flight emerging giants, Azam, beat Simba 2-1 at the save venue on Monday.
Yanga then slowly took command with speedy runs and quick passing to keep Mgambo defence under pressure. Just four minutes into play, Burundian striker Kavumbagu forced his way into the penalty box but was blocked by defenders.
Mgambo JKT threatened Yanga when striker Omar Yassin’s shot narrowly missed the target a few minutes later. They continued to apply pressure on the final third and a cross from the right found no one in the box to make contact with the ball as the chance went begging.
Yanga went rampant and piled pressure on their opponents and daring winger Mrisho Ngassa, especially, tormented the Mgambo defenders with his tricks and incisive running, but the Ernie Brandts’ charges lacked clear cutting edge in the box to kill off the visitors.
They had to wait until the 32nd minute when Mbuyu Twite’s set piece sailed into the back of the net, leaving goalkeeper Tony Kavishe flat footed.
Yanga missed the second when the hard working Athumani Idd ‘Chuji’ had engineered a move from close to the centre circle and released Ngassa on the right flank and the latter took a curved shot that was, however, finger tipped by the keeper to a fruitless corner kick.
Yanga survived a scare a few minutes before the break when Malimi Busungu’s set piece and the ball skidded off the hands of keeper Deogratias Munishi, but Omar Yassin lurking in the area failed to finish it off as he bizarrely missed from a follow up shot. Yanga won a penalty in the 50th minute after keeper Kavishe bundled down goal bound Kavumbagu in the box.
Kiiza stepped up and scored the second for Yanga. It was the eighth goal of the campaign for Kiiza, who also tied up with Simba’s Burundian striker Amis Tambwe at the top of the scoring chart so far.
Mgambo were forced to substitute Kavishe after picking a serious injury and was replaced by Godson Mmasa, who produced a number of fine saves to deny Yanga scoring anything close to 6-0 that Mgambo lost to Simba earlier in the campaign.
Mgambo were not dead and buried as they also attempted to pour upfront in search for a consolation and possibly an equalizer, but missed a clear chance midway in the second half.
They were made to pay from their profligacy when Kavumbagu netted the third in the 67th minute, connecting home Simon Msuva’s clever cross inside the area. Kiiza almost made it 4-0 when he raced through to a Frank Domayo’s pass but the keeper was alert to stop the danger.
Mbeya City maintained their impressive performance in the league with the thumping of their brothers Tanzania Prisons. The victory lifted the new boys in the block to second on 23 points from 11 outing.
Simba, on 20 points, have dropped to fourth in the table. Meanwhile, the match between Simba and Azam FC at the same venue on Monday realised 64m/-, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Information Officer, Boniface Wambura said.
Wambura said a total of 10,728 fans bought tickets to witness the match in which Simba lost 2-1. Each club got 15m/-. Wambura further said that the top flight match between Simba and Kagera Sugar will be played at the National Stadium tomorrow. The match will kick off at 4pm.
On Friday, defending champions Yanga will be in action against JKT Ruvu at the same venue, while the following day Mgambo Shooting will face Coastal Union at the Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga.
The day will also see Tanzania Prisons confronting Oljoro JKT at the Sokoine Memorial Stadium in Mbeya, while Azam FC will have a date against Ruvu Shooting at the Azam Complex in Chamazi, Dar es Salaam.
Mtibwa Sugar will welcome Rhino Rangers at the Manungu grounds in Turiani, Morogoro. The round 12 will be concluded on Sunday with a match between Mbeya City and Ashanti United at the Sokoine Memorial Stadium.
Source Tanzania Daily News
