Simba SC finally ended their four-year wait for victory against their arch-rivals Yanga in an intense Kariakoo Derby match on Sunday evening at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
Simba emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Yanga in the Tanzanian Premier League encounter, which saw Hennock Inonga Baka and Denis Kibu score a goal each in the first half.
In the opening two minutes of the match, Simba took the lead through a skillfully executed corner kick play.
Shomari Kapombe delivered an accurately placed cross, which was met by Baka, who timed his jump to perfection, to head the ball into the net.
Simba extended their lead in an impressive manner as Denis Kibu smashed the ball into the top right corner, leaving Yanga’s goalkeeper Djigui Diarra with no chance of stopping it, giving Simba a comfortable advantage as they went into the halftime break.
The win was particularly significant for Simba, who had not won a league match against Yanga in their previous eight encounters.
Roberto Oliveira, the former Brazilian coach of Vipers, managed to break the team’s poor streak in his first derby since taking charge at Simba.
This victory has helped Simba reduce the gap between them and the league leaders to just five points.
There are only four games remaining before the conclusion of the 2022/2023 Tanzanian Premier League season.
Despite the defeat, Yanga remains at the top of the table, although their lead has been cut to five points.
The Kariakoo Derby is known for its intense rivalry and passionate fans, and Sunday’s match was no exception.
Both teams fought hard, but it was Simba who came out on top, thanks to their clinical finishing and solid defence.
Kenyan international Joash Onyango played a pivotal role in ensuring his team kept a clean sheet.
The win has restored Simba’s fighting chance at winning the league title, and fans will be eagerly anticipating their remaining fixtures.
The Kariakoo Derby is a legendary fixture in Tanzanian football history, and this victory will undoubtedly go down as one of Simba’s most memorable wins against Yanga
