Young Africans will stay put at the top of the Tanzania Mainland Premier League (TPL) table standings after a dominant 2-0 win over Mbeya Kwanza at Sokoine Stadium.
It was a rather poor start by both team’s defences in the opening stages of the game.
Miscommunication in the eighth minute between Mbeya goalkeeper Hamadi Hamadi and defender Miza Krinstom allowed Feisal Salum an open shot on an empty goal, but somehow his miscued his shot wide from just inside the box.
Two minutes later an error in defence by Geoffrey Paphael afforded Zawadi Mauya to break behind the Kwanza backline, but his 20-yard shot was brilliantly saved by the keeper.
Yanga went ahead on 18th minute when Saidi Ntibozonkiza scored from a free-kick after Feisal Salum was brought down by Mbeya defender just outside the 18-yard- box.
Mbeya started seeing more of the ball after the 20-minute mark and went close in the 24th, as Hamis Kanduru did well to skip past two defenders before forcing Djigui into a good stop.
Yanga extended their advance two minutes later courtesy of a sublime long range effort Fiston Mayele to make it, 2-0.
Despite the upbeat tempo in the last 15 minutes of the opening stanza, the score remained 2-0 at the halftime break.
Mbeya nearly scored 10 minutes into the second half when William Edgar beat Djigui to the ball but ended up directing his inches wide of the upright.
Oscar Mwajanga tried his luck with a free-kick from 25-yards out in the 63rd minute, but his stinging effort was palmed away by Djigui.
Hamadi came to Mbeya’s recue in the 76th minute, as he came rushing off his line to deny Dickson Job in the 12-yard area.
The home side pushed for a consolation in the closing stages of the second half, but the they struggled to break down a stubborn Yanga defence.
