Fountain Gate edge Mashujaa

ARUSHA: FOUNTAIN Gate won 1-0 against Mashujaa in a closely contested Mainland Premier League encounter at Sheikh Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium in Arusha yesterday.

The result marked Fountain Gate’s first league win of the season after they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Singida Black Stars at Airtel Stadium in Singida in their opening match.

Mashujaa, meanwhile, came into the game on the back of a 1-0 victory over Coastal Union at CCM Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga. In yesterday’s clash, Kassim Harouna’s 10th-minute bullet, set up by Shomari Mponzi, beat Mashujaa goalkeeper Musa Malika to give Fountain Gate the lead.

ALSO READ: Simba in tricky Pamba test

After falling behind, Mashujaa increased the pressure and looked particularly dangerous down the left, with Michael Joseph using his pace to deliver crosses into the Fountain Gate penalty area for Crispin Ngushi, but the danger was repeatedly dealt with by the defence.

Mashujaa went close again in the 35th minute when Mapinduzi Balama connected Joseph’s cross, but Fountain Gate’s goalkeeper Rashid Abdallah cleared the attempt. Mashujaa continued to search for an equaliser after the break, but Fountain Gate remained a threat on the counter.

Fountain Gate came close to extending their lead in the 75th minute when Hashimu Omary unleashed a powerful effort, but Malika produced a fine save to keep Mashujaa in the game. Omary went close again eight minutes later, this time attempting a bicycle kick, but Malika was again equal to the effort.

Despite Mashujaa’s late pressure, Fountain Gate held firm to secure all three points and maintain their advantage until the final whistle.