Tanzania Premier League giants Yanga lost to KMC FC 3-0 in a friendly played on Sunday afternoon in Dar es Salaam.
More than 5,000 fans turned up at Uhuru Stadium to watch the game but were let down by a below-par Yanga, in a match both teams used to gauge their players before the resumption of the league next weekend.
The game started with a high tempo but both sides failed to produce anything in the final third.
Abdallah Mukufo should have opened the scoring with KMC’s first clear opening in the 19th minute, as he placed his effort wide of the goal from six-yards out after some great pass by Charles Ilanfya on the right.
Kenny Ally tried his luck with a free-kick from 25-yards out but the midfielder’s curling effort was palmed away for a corner by Metacha Mnata.
Hassan Kaparata came close just a minute later but the fullback fired an effort just wide of the mark from the edge of the area.
Sadala Lipangile put KMC ahead at the half-hour mark with a composed close-range completing a neat pass from Emmanuel Mvuyekule.
Yanga started to find pockets of space in KMC’s defence and nearly levelled matters after 37 minutes when Balama Mapinduzi cut inside from the left and sent a dangerous strike from 20-yards just wide of the upright.
Charles Ilanfya increased the visitor’s advantage at the stroke of halftime when he cut inside from the left to send a powerful strike into the back of the net.
The Luke Eyamel’s men started to threaten going forward, but KMC’s shot-stopper Juma Kaseja ensured the side kept the lead heading to the break after denying Andrew Vincente, who was Yanga’s liveliest player on the park.
Yanga kept the same players on after the restart with Said Juma’s timely run 10 minutes in almost paying dividends, but after seeing his initial cross-goal pass come back into his path, the striker blazed over when he should have hit the target.
Three minutes later, Seif was thrown on for Sibomana, but he too failed to inspire the Young African with even half chances proving few and far between.
Jafary Mohamed almost helped his side snatch a goal when his mazy run down the right saw him feed the ball to Faisal Salum, who somehow dragged his shot wide.
Hassan Kabunda added a third in the 88th minute with a well-taken free-kick, to mark the first major football match in Africa since coronavirus epidemic.
