Yanga held as Simba, Azam win to go top

Dar es Salaam. Simba SC and Azam FC climbed to the summit of the Vodacom Premier League after winning yesterday’s matches.
Azam, who were playing at Sokoine Memorial Stadium, stunned stubborn Tanzania Prisons 1-0 in a thrilling match.
Ivorian Michel Balou planted home the solitary goal in the 59th minute to down the warders.
At Uhuru Stadium, Simba came from behind to defeat Ruvu Shooting Stars 2-1.
Abraham Musa gave Ruvu Shooting the lead in the eighth minute, but Simba responded swiftly to level the score two minutes later through Ibrahim Hajib.
Laudit Mavugo netted in the 48th minute to hand the Msimbazi Street giants three points.
Azam, Simba and Mbeya City tie on seven points, but the former sits top courtesy of their superior goal difference.
At Nangwanda Stadium, defending champions Young Africans were forced to a goalless draw against hard-fighting Ndanda FC. Yanga have four points from two matches.
At the Uhuru facility, Simba got the match underway on a high note, pressing with speed in order to score an early goal, but Mavugo and Hajib could not unsettle the visitors’ backline.
After a few exchanges, Shooting regained their poise and managed to craft some decent chances before breaking the deadlock in the eighth minute.
Musa took full advantage of Simba defenders errors to unleash a powerful strike that goalkeeper Vincent Angban could not clear.
After the goal, Simba regrouped quickly and it took just two minutes to level the score.
Mohammed Hussein delivered a teasing cross in the Ruvu Shooting box and marauding Hajib connected home with aplomb.
Simba took total control of the game until midway through the first half, but Mavugo failed to convert clear chance in the 19th and 23rd minutes.
Ruvu Shooting called off Frank Msese for Renatus Kisase in the 30th minute, in a bid to add some energy, but both sides hardly created meaningful chances in the final quarter of the first half.
After the resumption, Ruvu Shooting looked more rejuvenated as they pressed with verve and conviction, but their strikers lacked precision in the area. The Coastal Region team had corners in the 47 and 48th minutes, but they were well dealt by Simba defenders.
Second later, Simba poured forward and Mavugo made amends for his earlier misses with a clinical goal.
Ruvu Shooting’s Jabir Aziz was dismissed in the 79th minute for fouling Mzamiru Yassin.
Despite falling to 10 men, the visitors worked hard with hopes of equalising, but Simba defenders stood firm to avert all dangers.
Lineups
Ruvu Shooting: Abdallah Rashid, Damas Makwaya, Mau Bofu, Frank Msese, Shaibu Nayopa, Jabir Aziz, Abrahman Musa, Shaban Kisiga, Said Dilunga, Fully Maganga, Claide Magenge.
Simba: Vincent Angban, Malika Ndeule, Mohammed Hussein, Novat Lufunga, Method Mwanjale,Jonas Mkude, Mwinyi Kazimoto, Said Ndemla, Ibrahim Ajib, Laudit Mavugo, Shiza Kichuya