A Dar es Salaam derby match lived up to its potential on Monday as Simba SC and Azam FC played to an entertaining 2-2 draw in a duel between the second place and third place teams in the Tanzania Mainland Premier League.
Azam, the third team in Tanzanian football who are always eager to upstage local giants Simba and Young Africans, got off to an electric start. Barely a minute elapsed before Azam took the lead after Iddy Nado won the ball in midfield and sent in a cross to set up Gambian forward Gibril Sillah who finished from a rebound after his first shot attempt was saved by Simba goalkeeper Moussa Camara.
The dream start for Azam meant that Simba needed to attack, something the benefited observers of the match. In the 26th minute, the Reds managed to level the match. Following an Azam free kick, Simba pounced for a counter attack led by an outstanding dribbling run from Kibu Denis. Kibu produced a perfect pass to create an opportunity for Elie Mpanzu who lifted his finish over onrushing Azam keeper Mohamed Mustafa.
Tied 1-1 at halftime, the match quieted down for a long stretch until the final twenty minutes produced a pulsating conclusion. An unlikely source put Simba ahead in the 75th minute when defender Abdulrazak Hamza leaped to nod in Jean Charles Ahoua's free kick service from the right flank.
But in the end, Azam FC had the last laugh as they equalized late on to spoil Simba's efforts to regain first place. In the 88th minute, Azam superstar and playmaker Feisal Salum collected the ball in his own half and sent a perfect long pass over the top of the Simba defense to find the run of winger Zidane Sereri.
The attacker's touch failed him but goalkeeper Camara's attempt to play the ball with his feet ricocheted kindly off Sereri, who was left with a tap-in to leave the teams level.
The result leaves defending champions and current leaders Young Africans the happiest out of Dar es Salaam's "Big 3". Simba are now four points back of Yanga with one less match played leaving the Citizens' place at the top safe for now. Azam are eleven points back of Yanga and seven points behind Simba with third place secure.
Tanzania's top division resumes play on Wednesday with Yanga back in action on Friday at Pamba Jiji while Simba travel to face Coastal Union on Saturday.
League Table (Credit: @Azam TV/X)
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