LEADERS Simba squandered a host of chances as they dropped crucial points after being held to a 1-1 draw by determined Lipuli FC in the Mainland Premier League match yesterday.
Mwinyi Kazimoto’s spectacular opener in the early opening exchanges lasted for few minutes, as Lipuli cancelled it out through Asante Kwesi. In the match played at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Simba were left to rue chances they threw away especially in the first half.
They risk losing their place at the summit of the league table, if Azam win today against Mtibwa Sugar at the Chamazi Complex. Simba still sit top of the log on 23 points from 11 matches, one above Azam, who have played a game less.
Things got underway at the Uhuru Stadium in normal fashion with the hosts dominating the possession as expected. Missing their starman and leading scorer —Emmanuel Okwi, through injury, Simba lacked a killer instinct.
Just seconds from the kick-off, attacker Shiza Kichuya smashed the left bar and Lipuli defenders had time to clear the mess. A minute later, Kichuya’s cross was well cut out by Asante Kwesi. Searching for an early opener, striker, John Bocco’s shot came off the right bar in the 3rd minute.
Playing with five midfielders, it was obvious that the Reds enjoyed more possession, neatly knocking the ball from side to side. In the 4th minute, Muzamiru Yassin’s shot from a drop ball narrowly sailed wide. A well taken set piece by Haruna Niyonzima was flicked by Kazimoto and Yassin reacted quickly to hit a rapid shot but couldn’t find the target.
Lipuli goalkeeper, Agathon Mkwando was kept busy, being called into play on couple of occasions by Kichuya and Bocco but the shot-stopper managed to block their attempts. Keeper Mkwando produced a superb save to deny Kichuya in the 9th minute, tipping off his speculative curler from Niyonzima’s cross.
It was one way traffic, and Bocco side footed his shot in the 12th minute after being set up by Muzamiru but his effort sailed wide. It was 1-0 up after 15 minutes and many saw it coming, when Kazimoto lobbed past the onrushing keeper for the opener.
The diminutive veteran midfielder, raced clear past a high defence splitting pass from Muzamiru to score with ease. Despite conceding, Lipuli kept their nerves and managed to pull level four minutes later.
Captain Asante Kwasi’s set piece went direct into the back of the net for a 1-1. After the equalizer, which came as a shock to Simba, the visitor’s tail was up as the host lost composure in the final third.
In the 35th minute, Lipuli coached by former Simba midfielder, Selemani Matola had to make early changes, bringing in defender, Novalty Lufunga for injured Hamad Manzi. The visitors maintained a compact shape as Joseph Omog’s side found it hard to break them down.
Niyonzima should have done better with a chance in the 38th minute but the skilful midfielder struck it waywardly over the bar. Three minutes before the interval, Bocco stretched out but failed to clutch home a Kichuya’s grass cutter cross.
The second half resumed in similar fashion with Simba seeing more of the ball while the away side looking to catch them on the break. In the 47th minute, Kazimoto almost struck home from a low shot but keeper pulled off another excellent save.
Simba brought in Burundian striker, Laudit Mavugo for Niyonzima in the 54th minute and later Kazimoto was withdrawn for Ghanaian Nicholas Gyan, changes which backpedalled Simba.
They lost flair. Frustrations grew in the Simba camp as Bocco just couldn’t apply power to his shot in the 71st minute, as keeper easily dealt with the attempt. Simba made their final change by introducing Ally Shomary for James Kotei in the 72nd minute as Erasto Nyoni switched to centre back.
It was another substandard performance from susbstitute Mavugo as he failed to find the back of the net in the late minutes. In 73rd minute Gyan’s shot was well gathered by keeper and the Ghanaian again forced the keeper into a full stretch to parry off his low shot to a corner kick in the 82nd minute.
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