Yanga kick off season with crushing win

Dar es Salaam. Young Africans started the defence of their Vodacom Premier League title with a bang following a 3-0 win over African Lyon at the National Stadium yesterday.

Deus Kaseke, Simon Msuva and Juma Mahadhi were on target as the Jangwani Street giants played their first match of the new season.

Yanga, who signed off their Caf Confederation Cup with a 3-1 defeat to TP Mazembe last week, hit the ground running, crafting several chances in the first 10 minutes.

African Lyon, who forced Azam FC to a one-all draw last week, made a few attacks before Yanga took the lead in the 18th minute.

Kaseke planted the ball home capitalising on a superb pass from Msuva who was enjoying the best of his game.

After the goal, the defending champions stepped up their assaults on the African Lyon goal, but the latter’s offside tricks prevented Yanga from doubling their advantage in the first half.

Yanga went to the halftime break leading 1-0. After the recess, African Lyon showed flashes of what they can do on their best day, but Yanga quickly regained control of the match.

Despite creating a host of chances, Yanga had to wait until the hour mark to score the second goal. Msuva rounded off Lyon’s Cameroonian shot-stopper Youthe Rostand before smashing the ball home.

Zimbabwean Thabani Kamusoko who initiated many attacks from the centre delivered a fine pass to Msuva who made amends for his earlier misses. Yanga did not slow down even after snatching a 2-0 lead and their efforts paid off in the 90th minute when Yusuf Mhilu’s pass was clinically converted by Mahadhi.

African Lyon, who won promotion to the topflight league in May, have one point after playing two matches.

In another Premier League match, Toto Africans failed to seize their home advantage after slumping to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Mbeya City.

Haruna Shamte’s solitary goal earned Mbeya City maximum points at the Kirumba Stadium.

Toto Africans, who are coached by Rogasian Kaijage, beat Mwadui FC in the first match with the soft-spoken coach promising to build on the win.

However, the home side found the going tough on their own pitch.

Line-ups

Yanga SC: Deo Munishi, Hassan Kessy, Mwinyi Hajji, Andrew Vincent, Vincent Bossou, Simon Msuva/Juma Mahadhi (76), Thabani Kamusoko, Donald Ngoma/Matheo SImon (88), Amissi Tambwe and Deus Kaseke/Yussuf Mhilu (89).

African Lyon: Youthe Rostand, Baraka Jaffar, Halfan Twenye, Hamad Tajiri, William Otong, Omar Salum, Amani Peter/Awadh Juma (46), Mussa Nampaka/Abdul Hilal dk (74), Omary Abdallah/Ramadhani Kipalamoto (74), Hood Mayanja and Tito Okello.