Young Africans Sports Club are the 2021/2022 Tanzania Mainland Premier League champions after beating Coastal Union 3-0 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday.
A brace by Fiston Mayele as well as a goal from Chiko Ushindi carried the day for the Citizens to seal a record 28th Premier League crown.
There was a lot at stake for both sides, as Yanga carved out the first chance on 15 minutes when Feisal Salum was dened by Mohmamed Hussein, before Abutwalib Mshery was called upon to deny Abdoul Sopu.
Yanga went on with their high press, as they looked for pockets of space in and around the box and Khalid Aucho came close to opening the scoring in the 25th minute with a low strike across goal that missed the bottom corner agonisingly wide.
The Citizens went ahead in the 33rd minute after Feisal Mayele found the ball inside the area before placing a good first touch and fired a left-footed strike into the back of the net.
Yanga were almost punished by Coastal Union when a sloppy pass gifted the ball straight to Moubarack Amza just on the edge of the right-hand side of the box and the Wagosi wa Kaya midfielder drilled a low effort which Mshery did well to keep out with his legs as the Buccaneers breathed a sigh of relief.
Soon after, Dickson Job fouled Adam Uledi on the edge of the area. Miraji Hassan stepped up and curled a promising effort over the wall towards the top right corner but Mshery was across comfortably to catch.
However, Nouruddine Nabi’s charges doubled their lead in the 52nd minute as Chiko Ushindi sent a powerful header Hussein from Mayele’s cross.
The speed of Mayele proved decisive again for Yanga on a counter-attack on the 68th minute,as the diminutive attacker made it 3-0 and grabbed his brace after he bundled home a shot from close range in a rebound after he had dribbled past Hussein.
Hussein was called into action a couple of minutes later with a goal-bound save, as the game was getting scrappy and the Coastal Union box crowded.
The writing was on the wall for the Wagosi wa Kaya in the closing stages as they could not click into gear and Yanga earned the title with two matches remaining.
