Simba Sports Club suffered their first loss in the 2022/2023, after going down 1-0 to Azam FC at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Thursday evening.
Prince Dube’s first half strike was enough to earn the Ice Cream Makers a historic win over one of the most successful clubs in the Tanzania Premier League and its Chamanzi side’s fourth win in the current campaign.
Simba dictated the tempo and looked for gaps in the Azam’s defence in the opening exchanges, but the hosts were struggling to keep their efforts on target. It took 20 minutes for the Msimbzai Reds to register their first shot on target when Augustine Okrah forced goalkeeper Ali Ahamada into a fine save.
Azam then launched a quick counter-attack and they managed to break the deadlock. Prince Dube fired a hard shot past goalkeeper Aisha Manula to hand the Ice Cream Makersa surprising 1-0 lead.
Simba responded by upping the tempo as they searched for the equalising goal with the half-time break approaching and Clatous Chama ‘s shot was easily saved by Ahamada. Almost immediately at the other end, James Akaminko was denied by Manula from a one-and-one situation after the Simba defence was exposed. The score was 1-0 to Azam at half-time.
The Msimbazi Reds took full control of the match after the restart with Okrah being the likeliest goalscorer for the visitors. The Ghanaian saw his powerful shot miss Ahamada’s upright, before forcing the Azam shot-stopper into a great diving save.
Azam could have extended their lead the 73rd minute but both Nado and Kola failed to score.
It was the first loss Simba have suffered this season and the first time to fall to Azam in the last nine years. Azam are now seventh on 14 points, as their opponents remain third with one game in hand.
