Simba Outshoot Dogged Mbao For SportPesa Cup Bronze Roar

27th January 2019 - by Louis Kalinga

Tanzanian league winners edge local rivals 5-3 on post-match penalties after an incident packed 3rd-place play off

BLOWING HOT: Simba SC player Zana Coulibaly celebrates scoring his penalty in the 2019 SportPesa Cup third-place playoff at the National Main Stadium, Dar-es-Salaam on January 27, 2019. PHOTO/SPN

SUMMARY

Mbao survived a second half siege for the wounded titleholders to force a barren draw in regulation time before Simba prevailed in the third shootout of the third edition of the annual eight team invitational tournament.
Clinical Simba converted all their spot kicks including that from their keeper Aishi Manula with star winger Emmanuel Okwi, Zana Coulibaly, Pascal Wawa and Clatous Chama also on target
Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, led a high-powered delegation of dignitaries from Kenya and Tanzania who sat in the stands in crowning day of the riveting third-edition of the tournament

DAR-ES-SAALAM, Tanzania- Tanzania champions Simba SC salvaged some pride when they roared to the 2019 SportPesa Cup bronze medal by sinking hard-fighting local rivals Mbao FC 5-3 on post-match penalties on Sunday at the National Main Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam.

Mbao survived a second half siege for the wounded titleholders to force a barren draw in regulation time before Simba prevailed in the third shootout of the third edition of the annual eight team invitational tournament.

Victory earned Simba USD7500 in prize money with beaten debutants Mbao who knocked out two-time winners Gor Mahia FC of Kenya, taking home USD5,000 for their fourth finish.

It was the second successive shootout heartbreak for Mbao who lost 5-6 Friday to Kariobangi Sharks FC of Kenya to miss out in the SP Cup final on their debut.

Clinical Simba converted all their spot kicks including that from their keeper Deogratius Munisha with star winger Emmanuel Okwi, Zana Coulibaly, Pascal Wawa and Clatous Chama also on target.

Raphael Siame missed the fourth for Mbao when his effort landed in the advertising hoardings to end their spirited run in the competition having dethroned Gor through- you guessed it- penalties on Wednesday.

The game that was a curtain raider for the all-Kenyan final pitting Bandari FC and Sharks which kicked-off moments later may have lacked the goal it advertised, with Simba hitting the woodwork thrice.

Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, led a high-powered delegation of dignitaries from Kenya and Tanzania who sat in the stands in crowning day of the riveting third-edition of the tournament.

A sizeable crowd witnessed a open game that kicked off in frenetic pace perfectly setting the mood for the final set to start right after the all-Tanzanian clash.

Mbao midfielder Said Khamis caused problems for Simba early on and in the 12th minute, he sent a teasing ball into the area but Raphael Siame failed to connect.

There was a prolonged delay in the match from the 17th after Simba defender Lamine Moro and Siame collided, both needing medical attention.

Former Gor forward and tournament record scorer, Meddie Kagere did well to find Ibrahim Mohamed in the 24th with a nice cut back but the latter failed to keep his short on target, as it rolled harmlessly wide.

The underdogs weathered an early storm and looked more threatening as the half progressed with Herbert Lukindo thought he was through on goal on the half hour mark after a delightful ball from Khamis found him in space but the assistant referee flagged him offside.

First change

Mbao were forced to make a first change in the game when Hamimu Abdikarim went down injured and was replaced by Babilas Chitembe in the 44th before the sides went in for the break deadlocked.

Simba came back a different side bringing on Okwi and Mohamed Hussein as Kagere left the game having failed to add to the eight goals he has scored in nine appearances at the competition.

Okwi almost made an immediate impact in the 50th when he got a great opportunity to give the Tanzanians the lead but his shot went straight at Metacha in the Mbao goal.

THE AGONY: Mbao FC player, Raphael Siame, reacts after missing his penalty in the 2019 SportPesa Cup third-placed play-off against Simba SC on January 27, 2019. PHOTO/SPN

Two minutes later, it was that man Okwi again who left two defenders for dead in the penalty area before his shot was well saved by the Mbao custodian once more.

Khamis then responded well for Mbao with a cheeky effort but Munishi did well to save.

Okwi continued to be a menace up front for Wekundu Wa Msimbazi, with his effort coming off the under side of the bar in the 55th before he controlled a Jonas Mkude pass well and dropped his shoulder before his shot was superbly kept out by man-of-the-match Metacha.

Rashid Juma was next to pass up a scoring chance by sending the ball sailing wide before Simba found the goal furniture yet again when Okwi worked the Mbao keeper only for the former who inexplicably found the foot of the post from the rebound with a whole goal to aim at.

With five minutes left on the clock, there was an extended break in the game following an injury to Metacha but the Mbao custodian was back in action as time ran out, inviting penalties.