Simba striker Haruna Chanongo tangles with Rhino Rangers defenders Salum Kamana (left) and Ladislaus Mbogo (right) during their Vodacom Premier League match at the National Stadium yesterday. Simba won 1-0. photo | Michael Matemanga
What you need to know:
Ramadhan Singano scored the solitary goal in the 13th minute to give the Msimbazi Street giants a perfect start to the second round despite a run-of-the-mill performance.
Dar es Salaam. Simba SC stayed in the hunt for the Vodacom Premier League title with a wafer-thin 1-0 victory over Rhino Rangers at the National Stadium yesterday.
Ramadhan Singano scored the solitary goal in the 13th minute to give the Msimbazi Street giants a perfect start to the second round despite a run-of-the-mill performance.
The win took Simba’s points to 27 from 14 outings, four adrift of leaders Young Africans who toiled for a 2-1 victory over Ashanti United on Saturday.
Azam FC and Mbeya City, the only unbeaten outfits this season, tie on 30 points, but the former occupy the second spot thanks to a superior goal difference. Rhino Rangers, who drew with Simba 2-2 in the first round, kicked off the match on a high note and Suleiman Jingo should have given the visitors an early lead, but was not sharp enough to convert two clear chances that came his way.
Simba’s first real chance came in the ninth minute, but Rhino Rangers defenders dashed on time to avert the danger for a corner that was also brilliantly cleared. Enjoying an electric atmosphere, Simba grew into the game and on the 13th minute, Singano capitalised on the mixed-up by the Rhino Rangers defenders to give the hosts the lead. Motivated by the goal, Simba launched a series of attacks and seven minutes later, Amisi Tambwe found the back of the net after latching onto Ali Badru’s cross, but the referee ruled that the Burundi international handed the ball before scoring.
Rhino Rangers regained their early pace midway through the first half, but Jingo and Darlington Enyinna could not beat goalie Ivo Mapunda who was making a league debut for Simba. Salum Kamama had a clear-cut chance to level the score in the 29th minute, but his power-packed close range shot went a few inches over the crossbar.
Ramadhan Shamte of Simba picked a yellow card in the 32nd minute for committing a foul on Shija Mongo and from there both sides hardly threatened. After the resumption, Simba looked a bit brighter and forced a futile corner from Gilbert Kaze’s parried volley. As the game wore on, the Tabora-based team stepped up its assault on Simba in a bid to take a point or three, but almost conceded the second from a spotkick.
Singano should have doubled the lead for Simba in the 70th minute, but took the penalty hastily and goalkeeper Charles Mpinuki rose to the occasion to deny him.
The tempo of the game then lowered with both sides displaying shoddy performance.
