Defending champions Yanga, have successfully defended their Tanzania Mainland Premier League championship for the third time in a row, after beating Mtibwa Sugar 3-1, in a match played yesterday evening at the Manungu Complex Stadium, Turiani, Morogoro
Yanga declared the championship with three games in hand after reaching 71 points which cannot be reached by any team including Azam FC and Simba who occupy second and third place
Two goals by strikers, Mzambia, Kennedy Musonda, Clement Mzize who entered the second half, as well as an own goal by Mtibwa's defender, Nasry Kombo, made the team achieve the goal of winning the championship in yesterday's match, especially after Simba forced to draw 1-1, last Sunday against Kagera Sugar and make Yanga's job easier
The championship did not come easily, the Yanga players had to fight especially after the 32nd minute goal scored by Charles Ilamfya which lasted until the break
Ilamfya surprised Yanga by putting Mtibwa ahead, connecting the cross of a player who plays for the team on loan from Simba, Jimson Mwanuke. A long ball was hit from the back, went to the right wing and found the player who was alone, ran near the flag before hitting a high cross that found the scorer who connected with the head and the ball filled the net to put Mtibwa ahead.
After that goal, Mtibwa seemed to go back and block more instead of attacking, leaving the ball to Yanga for most of the game and Yanga started to dominate the game. In an unusual situation, Yanga released the goalkeeper, Diarra after the first 45 minutes ended and brought in goalkeeper Aboutwalib Mshery in the second half who was signed from Mtibwa
Musonda scored the equalizing goal, after a clean penetration pass from Mudathir Yahaya that found him in a good position in the 62nd minute, he beat the net
Four minutes later, defender Kombo gave Yanga the gift of a second goal, in an attempt to save, by putting the ball in the net and connecting with a shot by Nickson Kibabage, who entered the second half to replace Joyce Lomalisa
Mzize, who replaced Joseph Guede, assured Yanga of victory and becoming champions this season, when he scored a goal in the dying minutes before the end of the match easily finishing the work done by Bakari Mwamnyeto, who licked the dribble of the goalkeeper, Toba Reuben and gave it to the scorer
