Israel Saria
Simba held by KageraHolders Young Africans suffered their second defeat of the season at the hands of Azam FC in the fifth round match of the Mainland soccer league played at the National Stadium in Dares Salaam yesterday.
It was striker John Bocco who dodged Yanga defending duo of Shadrack Nsajigwa and Chacha Marwa after 20 minutes to place the ball past helpless Ghanaian goalkeeper Yaw Berko.
This is Yanga’s second defeat after losing the opener to JKT Ruvu on August 20 at the same venue.
The ice cream makers kicked of the game promisingly and it took them 15 minutes to make a serious attempt o score. Yanga defender Shadrack Nsajigwa made a timely clearance to save Said Morad’s goal bound shot while Ghanaian goalkeeper Berko was already beaten.
However Yanga’s porous defence was exposed by Bocco’s 2oth minute goal that lasted for the rest of the match duration.
The goal was scored against the run of play as a minute earlier Davies Mwape failed to slot home Hamis Kiiza’s goal bound cross.
Yanga’s Ugandan striker Kiiza came close to pull an equalizer a minute before half time but threw the opportunity overboard much to the disappointment of team mate Shamte Ali who put him through.
Yanga replaced their Zambian striker Davies Mwape for Ghanaian Kenneth Asamoah who somehow electrified the striking force.
After resumption Yanga came as a strong force but profligacy prevailed when Rashid Gumbo shot wide after 62nd minute.
Azam replaced goal scorer Bocco for Zahor Pazi.
It was Azam’s second choice goalkeeper Mwadini Ali recruited from Zanzibar’s Mafunzo FC who made most f the saves to keep his tem afloat with the slim lead.
Ali came to the rescue of his team two minutes to time when he saved Asamoah’s shot to pile misery on Yanga.
In Bukoba Simba were held to 1-1 draw with hosts Kagera sugar in a match that saw Felix Sunzu missing a penalty.
Simba were the first to score through their Rwandan midfielder Patrick Mafisango midway into the second half.
Sunzu would have doubled the Simba lead but failed to convert the penalty. Kagera Sugar who are still searching for their first win of the season pulled an equalizer through a penalty kick taken by Hussein Swedi.
Swedi’s goal is the first to be conceded by samba after six matches as their goalkeeper Juma Kaseja has maintained a rollercoaster clean sheet for five back to back matches.
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