Yanga Clobber Simba to Go Top

Two goals from Donald Ngoma and Amissi Tambwe placed Young Africans back at the top of the Mainland Premier League table, following a 2-0 victory over their archrivals Simba in a pulsating derby clash at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Yanga reclaimed the top spot with 46 points after their victory as Simba dropped to third slot following Azam's 3-0 victory over Mbeya City at the Sokoine Stadium yesterday.

Azam took the second slot despite tying on 45 points with Simba but the former are ahead on goal difference advantage. Yanga's victory put to an end Simba's winning streak in ongoing league under Coach Jackson Mayanja.

The Ugandan tactician tested his first defeat since he took charge of the team from British tactician Dylan Kerr. In the yesterday's game, Simba, who played 65 minutes of the game with a man down, after central defender, Abdi Banda was given marching order for a second bookable offence, where the second best and deservedly lost their back to back league matches against their rivals this season.

Yanga won the first round match against Simba by the same margin. The Msimbazi Reds, however, were uncharacteristically tame for a fixture against their fierce rivals.

They have themselves to blame for the defeat after staging a dominant display in the first 30 minutes but failed to make use of the several chances they created.

Prior to the kick-off, Simba supporters who had somewhat outnumbered their opponents in the venue looked confident that their team would emerge victorious basing on their recent form.

Simba started the match in a high tempo displaying good footwork managing to get seven corners with their opponents having none but failed to take advantage of their dominance.

Notable opportunity for Simba came in the 18th minute, when Jonas Mkude's shot inside the penalty box hit the upright.

Ibrahim Ajib and Hamis Kiiza also squandered few chances they created before Banda was given the matching orders by referee Dionisia Rukyaa.

And, Yanga took advantage after Banda was sent off in the 25th minute for a second bookable offence for a crude tackle on Zimbabwean striker Donald Ngoma, as Simba played most part of the game with a man down.

The towering defender had initially received a yellow card for what seemed to be a 'soft' foul against Ngoma. Ngoma gave his side the lead six minutes before the break, capitalizing on Hassan Kessy's horrendous error to score.

The Zimbabwean striker snatched Kessy's short back pass to his goalkeeper, Vincent Agban and he rounded off keeper to easily slot home.

After, the break, Simba introduced Novat Lufungo for Mwinyi Kazimoto and the changes somewhat affected Simba as Lufungo's presence was hardly felt.

Yanga kept on dominating the game and piling pressure on their opponents' goal in most part of the half. Haruna Niyonzima ought to have scored in the 49th minute, but his shot went inches wide. After the miss, the Rwandese midfielder was called off for Simon Msuva in the 53rd minute.

The winger's first touch was dangerous and nearly gave his side the second goal. Mayanja introduced Danny Lyanga, Brian Majwega for Kiiza and Ajib respectively, while Yanga brought in Godfrey Mwaishuya for Deus Kaseke.

The changes benefited Yanga, who doubled their lead in the 72nd minute through Tambwe. Tambwe, who also scored in the first match against his former employer, scored the goal under the tight scrutiny of central defender Juuko Murshid. The Ugandan defender failed to intercept a cross from Mwaishuya.

Meanwhile, Alexander Sanga reports from Shinyanga that Stand United were held to a 1-1 draw with JKT Ruvu at the Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga in another VPL match.

The host took the lead seven minutes from the kick-off with a long range shot from Elias Maguli, which went into the back of the net past hapless goalkeeper Shabaan Dihile.

But JKT Ruvu levelled the matter five minute later through Abdul Rahman Musa, who capitalized on a goalkeeping blunder by Frank Muwonge. He failed to clear the ball.

In another match, Toto Africans fought to a 1-1 draw with Kagera Sugar at the CCM-Kirumba Stadium with Jafari Vedastus scoring for Toto in the 24 minute of the game finishing off Miraji Juma's pass but Kagera came back into the game in the 66th minute when Mbaraka Yusuph scored an equalizer.