Yanga warm up for Dar derby with draw
Mbeya City defender Ramadhani Malima (left) battles for the ball with Young Africans striker Obrey Chirwa during the Mainland Premier League match at the Sokoine Memorial Stadium in Mbeya yesterday. They drew 1-1. PHOTO | GODFREY KAHANGO.
What you need to know:
- City striker Idd Naddo was a prominent figure in a frenetic and surprisingly open match, scoring an injury time equaliser to rescue the hosts from the jaws of defeat.
Mbeya. Young Africans warmed up for Sunday’s Mainland Premier League clash with their traditional foes Simba with a 1-1 draw with 10-man Mbeya City yesterday.
City striker Idd Naddo was a prominent figure in a frenetic and surprisingly open match, scoring an injury time equaliser to rescue the hosts from the jaws of defeat.
Selemani beat goalkeeper Youthe Rostand with a superb header off a cross by Eliud Ambokile from the right flank, to send the hosts’ fans into wild celebrations at the Sokoine Memorial Stadium here.
Yanga had gone one up in the 57th minute when Rafael Daud connected home a Juma Abdul free kick with a low but tricky shot.
The result means Yanga remain second in the elite league with 48 points, from 23 outings, 11 points adrift of runaway leaders Simba.
With an eye on Sunday’s blockbuster match at the National Stadium, Yanga, needing a win to narrow a gap on Simba, laboured to contain the hosts.
Yesterday’s result is devastating for the Jangwani Street giants, whose second position is now threatened by Azam -- two points behind. On Saturday, Simba’s charge towards the league title was slowed down after they dropped two vital points in their one-all draw with Lipuli.
In an exciting match at the Samora Stadium in Iringa, Simba, however, managed to extend their unbeaten run to 25 games.
Needing a win to remain unruffled at the summit of the league table, Simba head coach, Frenchman Pierre Lechantre named a strong starting line-up, which included ace strikers Emmanuel Okwi and John Bocco. In the first half, Lipuli produced swift counterattacks and created many chances through Malimi Busungu, Seif Kirihe and Salamba, but they couldn’t take them.
They finally broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when Adam Salamba, whose curling effort hit the post before slotting in to give the hosts a 1-0 half time lead.
Sensing the danger of losing the match, Simba changed their three men defensive system in the second half by replacing Ugandan defender Juuko Murshid with Burundian striker Laudit Mavugo in order to add more firepower up front. The tactic paid dividends Mavugo headed in a Shomari Kapombe corner in six minutes after the hour mark to level matters for Simba.
