Ashanti United’s defender Khan Usimba (bottom) challenges Haruna Niyonzima of Young Africans during their Vodacom Premier League match at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Yanga won 5-1.
PHOTO | MICHAEL JAMSON.
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After a wobbly start, Ashanti weathered the storm later and Mussa Kanyaga forced goalkeeper Ali Mustafa into first-half heroics, twice denying him from close-range.
Dar es Salaam. Mainland champions Young Africans launched their title defence campaign with a bang while their arch-rivals Simba made a low start to the season in their respective matches yesterday.
Yanga had little mercy on newly promoted Ashanti United as they crushed them 5-1 in a thrilling Vodacom Premier League match at the National Stadium.
The result was rarely in doubt as Yanga enjoyed the lion’s share of the match, spraying Ashanti’s goal with more than 20 shots – 12 or so on target -- compared to their opponent’s 10, six of which troubled the Jangwani Street goalkeeper Ali Mustafa.
Jeryson Tegete was a constant thorn in the Ashanti defence in the opening minutes, while Salum Telela could have scored the match-opener two minutes into the game when his shot narrowly missed target.
After a wobbly start, Ashanti weathered the storm later and Mussa Kanyaga forced goalkeeper Ali Mustafa into first-half heroics, twice denying him from close-range.
Yanga went one up in the 10th minute when Jeryson Tegete concluded a spade-work by Simon Msuva with a tricky shot that gave goalkeeper Ibrahim Abdallah no chance.
Still fighting, Ashanti ought to have levelled matters in the 14th minute when Hussen Sued’s shot was blocked by Tegete before it crossed the goal line with goalie Mustafa beaten.
Another chance for Ashanti to equalise came in the 24th minute when Mustafa was forced to dive full length to clear a sizzling shot from Sued for an abortive corner.
Three minutes into the second half, Msuva made it 2-0 for Yanga with a superb shot that went straight into the net, leaving goalie Abdallah flat footed.
Tegete came into the picture again in the 57th minute and Haruna Niyonzima stretched the lead in the 73rd minute with a superb header.
Ashanti pulled one back in the 90th minute through Shaaban Juma before substitute Nizar Khalfan hit the final pin on the newly promoted side’s coffin deep into injury time.
In Tabora, Simba started their league campaign on a low note breaking the stalemate in the 10th minute through Jonas Mkude off a corner ball by Issa Rashid.
In Morogoro, a 19th minute penalty by Aggrey Morris salvaged a 1-1 draw for Azam FC against hosts Mtibwa Sugar in a closely-contested match at Manungu Stadium.
Mtibwa Sugar had netted the match-opener two minutes into the game through Juma Luzio.
In Tanga, hosts Coastal Union capitalised on a home ground advantage to hit JKT Oljoro 3-0 at Mkwakwani Stadium.
In Coast Region, Tanga’s JKT Mgambo fans had nothing to cheer about yesterday as the army team went down 2-0 to hosts Ruvu JKT at Mabatini Stadium.
In Mbeya, visiting Ruvu Shooting of Coast Region inflicted a painful 3-0 defeat on hosts Prisons FC at Sokoine Memorial Stadium.
Line-ups:
Yanga- Ali Mustafa, Juma Abdul, David Luhende, Nadir Haroub, Mbuyu Twite, Athuman Idd, Simon Msuva, Salum Telela, Jeryson Tegete, Didier Kavumbagu and Haruna Niyonzima.
Ashanti- Ibrahim Abdallah, Khan Usimba, Emmanuel Kichiba, Ramadhan Malima, Tumba Sued, Emmanuel Memba, Fakihi Hakika, Mussa Nampaka, Hussein Sued, Mussa Kanyaga and Joseph Mahundi.
