Run away Yanga rout Stand United

 

Donald Ngoma and Simon Msuva first half strikes were spiced up with a goal each by Obrey Chirwa and Nadir Haroub in the second half, as Yanga opened a four-point lead at the league’s summit. Yanga are top of the table on 49 points but second placed Simba have the opportunity to close the gap if they beat host Majimaji in Songea today.

The league front-runners started the match on a front foot and it was a matter of time before they started counting goals. Just four minutes into the match, Ngoma almost put the ball into the net, after a neat give-and-go with Msuva.

The Zimbabwean striker, who was back in the starting line up after being sidelined in several games due to injury, drove into the box but Ibrahim Job rushed to make a timely block to a fruitless corner kick.

Stand United made a rare foray upfront when attacking midfielder, Suleiman Kassim ‘Selembe’ dashed past his marker after a nice one-two passes with Nigerian striker, Abasalim Chidiebele and the former attempted to lob the outrushing goalkeeper, Deougratius Munishi, who eventually got the better of the striker.

After several near misses, Zimbabwean striker Ngoma gave his side the lead in the 17th minute. It was a simple header for the striker, after a brilliant work from Msuva, who hovered around the Stand United box, in search of his team-mate.

Ngoma took advantage of a goalkeeper blunder, after Sebastian Stanley came off his line recklessly allowing the striker to easily register his ninth goal of the season. Yanga continued to dominate possession and Msuva added the second in the 26th minute, hitting the roof top with a powerful shot.

Brilliant from Msuva, the wing wizard beats Adeyum Ahmed, before driving towards the right, where he took a quick glance at goalkeeper Sebastian Stanley at the near post before he fired a shot. It was Msuva’s tenth goal of the campaign and he now tops the scoring chart.

In the 32nd minute, Chidiebele and Selembe exchanged quick passes and the latter dragged his shot narrowly wide. Four minutes later, Munishi collided with Selembe and the keeper had to be treated on the pitch for some minutes.

Another chance went begging for Yanga two minutes before the break, when Chirwa came face to face with the keeper but the Zambian miss kicked the ball. Stand United almost got a goal out of the blue, when Chiedebele drove down the left for but defender Kelvin Yondani eventually got the better of the outnumbered forward. As the game rolled to the break, Yanga enjoyed a lion share of possession.

Few minutes after the second stanza, Chirwa charged into the box and scored the third, his eighth of the campaign. From that point, it was a game over as Yanga slowed the tempo but kept possession. Stand United were simply affording Msuva too much time and space around their penalty area.

In the 57th minute, the winger picked up the ball from the left side, forced his way into the box before he was brought down by defender Erick Mulilo. Referee Suleiman Kiungani from Morogoro pointed to the stop. Msuva stepped up, surprisingly he fired wide over the bar.

Despite the penalty miss, Yanga looked less stressed, with the win on the horizon. There was still time for Yanga central defender Nadir Haroub to score the fourth goal for his side with a free header, connecting home Juma Abdul’s corner kick in the 68th minute.

Few minutes after the goal, Coach George Lwandamina introduced Andrew Vincent for Yondani, while United brought in veteran midfielder Amri Kiemba and goalkeeper Mohamed Makaka for Chidiebele and Stanley respectively for what seemed to be a damage control mission.