Khalfan nets twice to give Yanga boost

Monday, 01 October 2012

Yanga forward Didier Kavumbagu (right) attempts to find a way past African Lyon defender Yusuf Mlipili during their Vodacom Premier League match at the National Stadium yesterday. Yanga won 3-1. photo | michael matemanga By Majuto Omary, Dar es Salaam. Young Africans continued their resurgence with a convincing 3-1 thrashing of African Lyon in a mainly one-sided Vodacom Premier League match at the National Stadium yesterday.For the Jangwani boys, the victory which took them to the fifth place  with seven points is a morale booster ahead of the eagerly awaited derby against Simba on Wednesday. Nadir Haroub first half goal and a brace from substitute Nizar Khalfan in the second half confirmed Yanga’s dominance and forced new head coach Ernes Brandts who was on the stands into a wide smile. Fresh from a 4-1 victory over JKT Ruvu last week, Yanga kicked off the match brightly with Didier Kavumbagu, Hamis Kiiza and Simon Msuva fluffing their chances in the 2nd, 7th and 9th minutes respectively. African Lyon, who hardly threatened in the first 15 minutes, should have shocked Young Africans in the 7th minute when Benedict Mwamlangala’s goal-bound ball was bravely cleared by Haroub. After a series of near misses, Yanga broke the stalemate in the 16th minute through Haroub who chipped the ball past a hapless goalkeeper Abdul Seif.  Haruna Niyonzima was the provider of the killer pass. After the goal, African Lyon came out of the blocks and attacked Yanga in search of an equaliser, but defenders Athumani Iddi, Kelvin Yondani and Mbuyu Twite kept their forwards at bay. A minute before the breather, Yanga came close to doubling their advantage through Kiiza, but the Ugandan import could not connect with the ball from six metres. The second half resumed with African Lyon looking the better side, forcing Yanga to work overtime trying to protect their goal. In the 50th minute, Hood Mayanja was in position to equalise but sent his shot way over the cross bar. Yanga assistant head coach Fred Felix Minziro opted to call Kiiza off for Said Bahanuzi in the 58th minute and Frank Domayo for Nizar Khalfan two minutes later.   African Lyon finally found the equaliser in the 62nd minute through Mwamlanga, but hardly had their celebrations died down when Khalfan restored the lead with a superb diving header. With Haruna  Niyonzima pulling the strings from the midfield,  Yanga continued to send waves of attacks to African Lyon and Khalfan sealed his brace in the 89th minute, capitalising on a rebound after Msuva’s shot hit the crossbar. Lineups Yanga: Ally Mustapha 'Barthez', Mbuyu Twite, Oscar Joshua, Kelvin Yondani, Nadir Haroub 'Cannavaro', Athuman Idd 'Chuji', Saimon Msuva, Frank Domayo (Nizar Khalfan), Didier Kavumbagu, Hamis Kiiza (Said Bahanuzi), Haruna Niyonzima. African Lyon: Abdul Seif, Omari Mtaki, Hemed Manzi, Sunday Bakari, Benedict Mwamlangala, Robert Mkotya, Obina Salamusasa, Mohamed Samata, Hood Manja, Jacob Masawe and Yusuf Mlipili.