Simba SC yesterday in Dar es Salaam breathed a sigh of relief after snatching a 2-1 victory from Kenya’s Tusker FC, earning a third spot in the Tusker Cup tournament whose finals will be played today at Uhuru Stadium.
The match, which went into extra time after both teams tied one goal each by end of normal 90 minutes, saw Simba pocket $10,000 after a lackluster start. Samba conceded own goal through their player Juma Nyoso who tried to clear a shot by Tusker’s middle fielder Japhary Anjele in the 25th minute.
Until the end of the first half, the scores stood at 1-0, with Simba fans holding their breath as their team had previously suffered defeat at the hands of their archrivals Yanga FC. The deciding goal came into the 4th minute of extra time.
This came several minutes after some disappointed fans had already streamed out of the field, having lost hope of their team carrying the day. Simba forward Mohammed Kijuso, who substituted Mike Barasa at the 69th minute, deftly connected Mohammed Banka’s long shot to equalise Tusker’s.
Having tied by end of normal time, the teams were added extra 30 minutes; with Simba’s Ramadhan Chombo ‘Redondo’ giving his team the perfect BoxingDay gift after slotting the second goal three minutes into the prolonged game.
Yanga plays Kenya’s Sofapaka in today’s finals, bringing the weeklong tournament to a close in Dares Salaam.
Simba: Ally Mustapha ‘Barthez’, Haruna Shamte, Juma Jabu, Juma Nyoso, Anthony Matangalu, Jabir Aziz/ Nicco Nyagawa (dk.29), Ramadhani Chombo ‘Redondo’, Mohammed Banka, Emanuel Okwi, Mike Baraza/ Mohammed Kijuso (dk.69), na Salum Aziz/ David Naftali (dk. 50).
Tusker: Ebel Omuhaya, Noah Abich, Christopher Litswa, Edwin Mukenya, Humphrey Okot/David seda (dk.71), Collins Okoth, Japhary Anjele, Francis Oduor/ Oscar Kadenge (dk.34), Nathan Mutenza, Augustine Etemesi/ Mourice Odipo (65) na Joseph Emeka.
