Mbeya City upset Yanga

MBEYA: TANZANIA Mainland Premier League giants Young Africans SC were left frustrated at the Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya after being held to a goalless draw by a resolute Mbeya City SC.
Despite dominating possession and creating a flurry of chances, the visitors failed to find the cutting edge needed to break down their hosts. Yanga began on the front foot, dictating the tempo with quick interchanges and relentless runs into Mbeya City’s half.
Within the opening 10 minutes, they carved out four attempts, none troubling the goalkeeper, Beno Kakolanya. Yanga won corners in the 18th and 28th minutes, but came to nothing, while Mohamed Doumbia squandered a good opportunity on 32nd minute, dragging his shot wide.
Mbeya City, though largely pinned back, nearly stunned the visitors. In the 24th minute Ibrahim Ame unleashed a fierce free-kick that narrowly missed the target. At the break, the scoreline remained 0-0, with Yanga guilty of wastefulness and Mbeya buoyed by their defensive resilience.
The second half resumed at a frenetic pace, both sides eager to land the opening blow. Shadrack Boka’s pass found Max Nzengeli, who fired just over from outside the box, before Azizi Andabwile tested goalkeeper Beno Kakolanya with a stinging effort that the goalkeeper handled superbly.
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In the 52nd minute, Yanga’s Pacome Zouzoua dazzled his way into the penalty area, only to be thwarted by a last-ditch Mbeya clearance. Yanga Head Coach, Romain Folz rang the changes, introducing Celestine Ecua and later Lassine Kouma, while Prince Dube was thrown in on the 80th minute to sharpen the attack. Still, Yanga’s dominance yielded no reward.
The stopper Kakolanya proved a wall once more in the 68th minute, saving Pacome’s free-kick that deflected into a corner. Again in the 74th minute Andabwile rose highest to meet a corner but headed wastefully wide. From the 65th minute onward, the game became scrappier, both sides resorting to long balls.
Mbeya City focused almost entirely on containment, soaking pressure and frustrating Yanga with disciplined defending. Six added minutes offered late drama as Yanga pressed desperately, but the clearest chance fell to Mbeya in stoppage time.
A forward beat the last defender, only to overplay his move instead of shooting, allowing Yanga’s keeper to smother the danger. In the end, the stalemate left Yanga ruing missed opportunities and Mbeya City celebrating a hardfought point.
For Yanga, the result is a reminder that possession without precision rarely wins matches. After the match, the Tanzania Mainland Premier League standings saw Singida Black Stars move to the top of the table with six points, while Yanga sit second with four points from two matches each.
Meanwhile in another Premier League encounter held earlier in the day at KMC Complex in Dar es Salaam, Elvis Rupia was the hero for Singida Black Stars as his firsthalf goal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mashujaa FC. The match, tightly contested from the outset, saw both sides display tactical discipline and physical intensity.
However, it was the hosts, Singida, who found the crucial breakthrough just moments before the halftime whistle. In the 43rd minute, Kenyan striker Rupia latched onto a precise through-ball and calmly slotted past the Mashujaa goalkeeper, Patrick Muntary, giving his side a vital lead.
The goal proved to be the difference in the match that was marked by missed chances and determined defending.
The opening 45 minutes saw both teams trade possession with neither able to create clear-cut opportunities early. Mashujaa enjoyed spells of pressure, especially down the flanks, but failed to test the Singida goalkeeper meaningfully. Just when it looked like the first half would end goalless, Rupia made his mark.
Displaying great composure and striker’s instinct, pouncing on a defensive lapse and delivered a clinical finish that sent the Singida bench into celebration. Mashujaa came out with renewed energy after the break, pushing numbers forward in search of an equaliser.
They got several corners and long-range efforts but were consistently denied by a disciplined Singida backline and a composed performance from their goalkeeper. Singida, on their part, sat deeper in the second half, opting to protect their narrow lead, while looking to hit on the counterattack.
Substitute appearances brought fresh legs, but no further goals were followed. When the final whistle was blown, it was Singida Black Stars who walked away with all three points — a win that boost their standing in the early stages of the season after winning all their two games.
For Mashujaa, the narrow defeat will sting, especially after a spirited second-half performance. The Kigoma -based side have played three games with one win, draw and losing one as well.