Simba SC made plenty of signings to boost their squad for the second half of the season but the Dar es Salaam giants continued their struggles upon returning to domestic league action on Tuesday. The Reds of Msimbazi hosted fellow Ligi Kuu Tanzania Bara top-5 club Azam FC in a local derby and were held to a 1-1 draw, a disappointing result following a crushing 0-3 defeat to Morocco’s Raja CA over the weekend in CAF Champions League action.
It took only sixteen seconds for Simba to suffer a setback against Wana Lambalamba. Azam took the lead instantly after kick off when a pass form Ghanaian midfielder James Akaminko found the run of dangerous striker Prince Dube with the Zimbabwean making no mistake by shooting past advancing Simba goalkeeper Aishi Manula.
To their credit the Reds controlled play after the early concession but struggled to find a way past Azam’s recently signed goalkeeper, Ghanaian Abdulai Iddrisu. The former Bechem United shot stopper came up with a couple of important saves but there was nothing he could do on Simba’s late equalizer in the 90th minute. Simba left back Mohamed Husseini received the ball and sent a cross into the Azam penalty area where Dennis Kibu’s flicked header was redirected into the Azam goal off the head of defender Abdallah Kheri, leaving the teams to share the spoils.
Simba’s failure to get a win was compounded by the success of their rivals Young Africans on Wednesday with a mistake from one of Simba’s former youth players helping Yanga’s cause. Yanga navigated past Kinondoni MC away from home to earn a 1-0 victory and extend their league lead to eight points, scoring the winner in the 39th minute. A corner kick service from the left wing saw goalkeeper David Mapigano Kisu’s attempt at a punch fail with the ball falling right to Clement Mzize for a volley into the goal from five yards out.
Highlights from both matches are below.
Scores
Simba SC 1-1 Azam FC
KMC 0-1 Young Africans
Highlights
Simba SC 1-1 Azam FC
KMC 0-1 Young Africans
