Azam silence Simba to go top
Azam FC players celebrate a goal during their Mainland Premier League match against Simba at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Azam won 2-1. PHOTO I MICHAEL MATEMANGA
What you need to know:
The hard-fought victory means the ice-cream makers now top the league table with 23 points, three ahead of Simba and Mbeya City.
Dar es Salaam. Ambitious Azam FC handed Simba their first defeat this season when they hit them 2-1 in an exciting Mainland Premier League match at the National Stadium yesterday.
The hard-fought victory means the ice-cream makers now top the league table with 23 points, three ahead of Simba and Mbeya City.
Mbeya City, who take on Tanzania Prisons FC at Sokoine Memorial Stadium in Mbeya today, tie on 20 points with Simba but the Msimbazi Reds are ahead on goal difference.
The second position may change hands again today when fourth-placed Young Africans face struggling JKT Mgambo at the National Stadium.
Defending champions Yanga have amassed 19 points so far, one adrift of Simba and four behind leaders Azam, who are gunning for their first league title.
Azam, looking to topple Simba, made a bright start in yesterday’s match and went close several times in the first 15 minutes, the culprits being strikers John Bocco, Kipre Tchetche and Humprey Mieno.
After a wobbly start, Simba took the game to Azam later and missed what could have been the match-opener seven minutes into the game when Betram Mwombeki broke through, only to see his shot go wide.
A minute later, Zahoro Pazi missed another clear chance when he hesitated to connect home a pass by Amri Kiemba.
They went one up in the 22nd minute through Ramadhan Singano with a sizzling shot following a neat pass from Zahoro Pazi.
Looking unperturbed, Azam moved up gear and pressed upfront relentlessly in search of a an equalizer.
Mieno missed a clear chance in the 25th when his close range effort narrowly missed the target.
and after heading out before Kipre Tchetche and Joseph Kimwaga missed in the 29th and 33rd after shooting wide.
Azam FC efforts to equalize materialized and equalized in the 43rd through Kipre Tchetche following tremendous job made by Erasto Nyoni.
Line-ups:
Simba:- Abel Dhaira, William Lucian, Issa Rashid, Hassan Khatib, Joseph Owino, Jonas Mkude, Ramadhan Singano, Said Ndemla, Betram Mwombeki, Zahoro Pazi and Amri Kiemba
Azam FC:- Mwadini Ali, Erasto Nyoni,Waziri Salum, Aggrey Morris, Said Moradi, Bolou Kipre, Salum Abubakari, Humphrey Mieno, John Bocco, Kipre Tchetche and Joseph Kimwaga.
