Ethiopian Premier League champions St George were beaten 2-1 by Tanzania Premier League side Simba Sports Club in a friendly match played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Kibu Dennis and Nelson Okwa scored the all important goals for the Msimbazi Reds against a much-changed Zerihun Shengeta’s side that gave some game time to the squad players.
St George were forceful going forward in the opening exchanges and Abel Yalew had a big chance to give them the lead in the seventh minute after going through on goal from Chernet Gugsa’s pass, one-on-one with goalkeeper Beno but he scooped his shot over the crossbar.
The game opened up after as Simba’s Kanoute latched onto flicked header by Sakho in the six-yard box but his first-time strike was smothered by Bahiru Negash.
St George were also looking dangerous on the counter-attack and threatened on one such occasion when Ismail Ouru-Agoro found himself through on goal but was denied by an excellent save from Msimbazi Reds goalkeeper Beno.
However, it was Zoran Manojlovic’s side who took the lead against the run of play in the 18th minute when Kibu Dennis broke the deadlock with a powerful shot for the opener.
St George started to create more of the chances and Panom squandered his chance in the 35th minute when he volleyed just wide from a tight angle.
Simba had a chance to increase their tally the 39th minute when Kyombo rattled the crossbar with a fine shot.
Hussein then squandered a glorious chance shortly after the halftime break, when he placed his effort wide of the upright from six-yards out, after being teed up by Sakho.
Simba got their reward in the 68th minute when new Nigerian striker Nelson Okwa dispatched a Clatous Chama delivery into the back of the net, 2-0.
Beno had to be at his best in the 72nd minute, as he pulled off a superb save to keep out Venter’s powerful free-kick.Henok Adugna
Negash came to Horsemen rescue just a minute later, as he coming rushing off his line to deny Sakho from six-yards out.
The home side squandered a chance of in the 88th minute when new signing Dejan Georgijević fed a pass for Chama who ended up dragging his effort wide of the mark from close range.
St George continued to push forward in the dying minutes but they could not get past a deep block by Simba.
