AfricaPress-Tanzania: SIMBA cut the gap with Mainland Premier League leaders Young Africans to four points, following a 1-0 win over host Biashara United in Mara on Thursday.
Bernard Morrison scored the solitary goal in the first half as the Msimbazi lads continued to pile huff and puff behind their traditional rivals.
Following the victory, Simba have now posted 42 points from 18 matches, while Yanga still sit top of the pile with 46 points from 20 outings.
This means, should Simba win their two matches in hand they will knock off Yanga at the league’s summit. Despite the defeat, Biashara United remained fourth on the log on 32 points from 20 matches and Francis Baraza charges still harbour the prospect of finishing in the top four places in the league.
As predicted, the match was tough as Biashara United went toe to toe with the giants, who somewhat struggled with the bumpy and tall grass at the Karume Stadium pitch.
Simba were on the front foot sparkling the venue was filled to the brim. Meddie Kagere failed to make contact with Morrison’s corner kick in the 10th minute and three minutes later, Biashara United also threatened, when Lenny Vedastus drove past defenders but failed to hit the target.
In the 18th minute, Zimbabwean import Perfect Chikwende dillydallied with a chance before he was tackled by Mpapi Nassib.
After several near misses, Simba hit the front in the 21st minute when Ghanaian striker Morrison arrived at Chikwende’s cross into box only to side foot his short at the far past goalkeeper James Ssetuba.
It was Morrison’s third goal of the campaign. Simba kept piling pressure and in the 30th minute, a long aerial set piece from Said Ndemla was cleared before reaching Thaddeo Lwanga, who was in a good scoring position.
The match was a bit physical and in the 35th minute, Deogratius Judika was shown yellow card for a crude tackle on Simba defender Joash Onyango.
Few minutes before the interval, Morrison set Chikwende inside the box but the former Zimbabwe’s FC Platinum striker squander the opportunity to double his side’s lead as he shot well wide.
After the break, Biashara United came in rejuvenated pushing Simba to the limit but failed to make the most from the chances they created.
However, it was Simba who deadly going forward and in the 57th minute Ndemla dribbled past a thick of defence and his cross found unmarked Morrison, who fired his shot to the skies three metres out of the yawning net with keeper well beaten.
Morrison was then stretched off the field after sustaining injury in the 80th minute and was replaced by Hassan Dilunga, who was lively. Then, Chikwende thought he had scored but his goal was disallowed for an offside. Elsewhere, at the Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma host JKT Tanzania were held to a 1-1 draw by Polisi Tanzania.
JKT Tanzania hit the front after Daniel Lyanga gave them the lead before going into the break. Polisi Tanzania pulled level through Marcel Kaheza in the 68th minute from a spot kick after he was brought down in the box by goalkeeper.
The results saw Polisi Tanzania leapfrog Kagera Sugar to settle in the ninth position after bagging 24 points from 19 outings.
