Second-placed Azam are now firmly back in the title race with 29 points from 11 matches, one point adrift of Yanga.
Dar es Salaam. On-song Azam FC moved to within the touching distance of Mainland Premier League leaders Young Africans with a 2-1 win over Majimaji in Songea yesterday.
Second-placed Azam are now firmly back in the title race with 29 points from 11 matches, one point adrift of Yanga.
The ice cream makers have a match in hand over the defending champions.
Majimaji made a bright start at the Majimaji Stadium in Songea and missed two clear chances early in the first half.
As expected, Azam weathered the storm and took the game to the hosts but had trouble in turning into goals the chances they created.
They broke the stalemate in the 10th minute through Ame “Zungu” Ali who capitalised on a defensive mixup to beat the hosts’ goalkeeper with a tricky shot.
Azam went two up in the 20th minute when their Burundian striker Didier Kavumbagu beat two defenders just outside the penalty box to unleash a shot that went straight into the net for a 2-0 half time lead.
On resumption, Majimaji came out a more aggressive side, pressing upfront relentlessly in search of a goal. They pulled one back six minutes to the hour mark through Alex Kondo.
Azam head coach Stewart Hall heaped praise on his players after the match, saying they played in accordance with his instructions.
“Majimaji are a good team, I am happy that we won the match,” he said.
Majimaji assistant coach Hassan Banyai, on the other hand, blamed the defeat on poor finishing.
“It’s very disappointing to lose a match at home. We played well but we failed to convert into goals a number of chances that came our way,” he said.
The defeat means Majimaji now sit 11th with 11 points after 12 games.
At Karume Memorial Stadium in Dar es Salaam, JKT Ruvu battled to a 2-2 draw with Tanga’s Coastal Union. JKT Ruvu scored their goals through Mussa Juma and Samuel Kamuntu while Miraj Adam and Nassoro Kapama scored for Coastal Union.
In Mbeya, hosts Mbeya City drew 1-1 with Mgambo Shooting at Sokoine Memorial Stadium.
