Yanga stunned as Simba close gap

Dar es Salaam. Coastal Union defied the odds to hand Young Africans their first 2015/16 Vodacom Premier League defeat at Mkwakwani Stadium yesterday.

Coastal Union took maximum points courtesy of Miraj Adam who scored in the 27th minute before Juma Mahadhi doubled the advantage in the 62nd minute.

At the National Stadium, resurgent Simba SC put African Sports to the sword with a 4-0 victory, thus closing the gap on Yanga and Azam to just three points.

The victory took the Msimbazi Street giants’ points to 36 as Yanga and Azam continue to lead the title race with 39 points.

Simba celebrated their biggest win in recent matches thanks to goals from Hamis Kiiza who netted a brace while Hassan Kessy and Haji Ogando struck one goal apiece.

African Sports, who held Azam and Mtibwa Sugar recently, return to the bottom of the 16-team table having garnered nine points from 16 matches.

Simba looked odds-favourites to win from the outset as they raided the African Sports area severally in the opening minutes.

Kiiza, whose goal tally now stands at 12, broke the deadlock in the 14th minute after releasing a powerful shot that left African Sports shot-stopper Zakaria Mwaluko ball watching.

Simba continue to enjoy a lion’s share of possession, but could not double their lead until the half hour mark when Kessy calmly volleyed home off Ibrahim Ajibu’s pass.

African Sports launched several attacks in the final 15 minutes, but Hamad Mbumba, Rajab Isihaka and James Mendy fluffed the chances that came their way.

Three minutes to halftime, unselfish Mwinyi Kazimoto delivered a cheeky pass in the African Sports area and the Ugandan rounded off Mwaluko to slot home his second and third for the Jackson Mayanja’s side.

After the recess, the visitors looked determined to reduce the deficit, but they paid the price for lacking precision in the Simba box. Ugando clinically scored the fourth goal in the 75th minute after receiving a pass from Kazimoto who was arguably at his best form.

In Tanga, Yanga crafted a host of chances and ought to win by a big margin, but their free scoring strikers had a bad day in office.

Gutsy Coastal Union made a few attacks and took the lead in the 27th minute through Adam whose 28-metre shot beat defenders and goalie Deo Munishi.

Yanga defenders were caught napping in the 62nd minute and Mahadhi’s long-range shot beat Munishi again.

The Yanga goalkeeper had not conceded in the past seven league matches.

In other matches, JKT Ruvu nad Majimaji played out a barren draw while Mwadui FC beat Toto Africans 1-0.

Today, Mtibwa Sugar host Stand United in Morogoro while Mgambo JKT will play Ndanda FC and Kagera Sugar will entertain Mbeya City.

Reported by Charles Abel (Dar) Doris Maliyaga (Tanga),Saddam Sadick( Shinyanga).