Yanga bowed out of CAF Champions League after River United annihilated the Tanzanian giants 1-0 win and 2-0 on aggregate in the return leg played at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.
The visitors looked the more settled and attack-minded team in the early stages, though Rivers blew a great chance to take the lead in the 14th minute: an attack down the right wing gave Jesus Muloko a one-on-one chance with Sochima Victor, but the goalkeeper made a fine save.
That sparked a period of dominance from the Tanzanian side, yet the next major opening saw Rivers put Duru Gideon in with a scoring chance after a fine move in the 28th minute, but his low shot from a tight angle was turned behind by goalkeeper Djigui Diara.
Just after the half hour mark, Adeyum Saleh came to Yanga’s rescue with a wonderful clearance from an Heritier Makambo effort. Three minutes later, Yacoube Sogne was denied by the visitor’s goalkeeper Sochima after he had beaten the defence.
Sogne who was coming back into the match after injury was in top form and, in the 41st minute, Esor Nelson earned a yellow card for obstructing the Gor striker.
Chiamaka Madu was stopped by in the Ynaga goal from an injury time effort. Yanga, however, ended the first half on a high after Mukoko Tomombe found a Sogne pass but he was in too much of a hurry to shot and the effort went wide.
Sochima was in action again inside the opening 60 seconds after the restart, keeping out Adeyum Saleh’s low shot after great set-up play from Makambo, Rivers otherwise struggled to create scoring chances.
The hosts went on the offence after the hour mark, withdrawing Chiakama Mandu for Ishaq Rafiu and they nearly got an opener with Ali Malam missing an open chance.
Rivers claimed the lead in the 81st minute courtesy of Uche Onwuansanya after Ishaq Rafiu awesomely dazzled past his marker before laying a nice pass for an easy poke home.
Jesus Muloko had a chance for an equalizer in the dying minutes of the game but his thurnderous shot went off target with goalkeeper off his mark.
