KIGOMA: Young Africans (Yanga) delivered a ruthless performance, dismantling Mashujaa FC with a resounding 5-0 victory at Lake Tanganyika Stadium yesterday. This dominant display propelled Yanga to 55 points from 21 games, solidifying their position atop the Mainland Premier League standings, five points clear of archrivals Simba SC, who hold two games in hand.
Mashujaa, on the other hand, remains anchored in ninth place with just 23 points from the same number of matches. Young Africans were clearly the dominant side from the onset, controlling the tempo of the game, but Mashujaa managed to hold their ground for the first 30 minutes.
The breakthrough came when Duke Abuya broke the deadlock in the 31st minute, firing a low shot past the unprepared Mashujaa goalkeeper after being unmarked inside the penalty area. "Duke Abuya broke the deadlock in the 31st minute, when he was unmarked inside the box and firing a low shot past the Mashujaa goalkeeper," reported by IPPMEDIA.COM.
With the first goal boosting their confidence, Young Africans unleashed their attacking prowess at the start of the second half. Just one minute after the restart, Prince Dube doubled the lead with a brilliant header, thanks to a perfectly timed cross from Pacome Zouzoua.
Yanga continued their relentless pressing, pushing Mashujaa back and forcing them to commit fouls. This pressure led to one key moment in the 62nd minute, when Mashujaa’s Yusuf Dunia fouled Khalid Aucho. A well-executed free kick from Zouzoua found Aucho unmarked, and he made no mistake, driving the ball home for Young Africans’ third goal. "The expertly taken free-kick from Zouzoua found Aucho unmarked, waiting alone in the box," reported by IPPMEDIA.COM.
The substitutions made by Yanga then paid off significantly. Clatous Chama, who came on to replace Stephen Aziz Ki, made immediate impacts on the game. He added the fourth goal for Yanga in the 74th minute, converting a low shot from an assist delivered by Max Nzengeli. Just minutes later, Chama capped off his performance by scoring his second goal of the match with a powerful header from another assist by Abuya, bringing the scoreline to 5-0.
Chama wasn’t done yet. He completed his brace with a powerful header, finishing off a perfectly delivered short cross from Abuya. His contributions highlighted the depth and talent within the Young Africans squad, underscoring their offensive strength and strategic gameplay.
With this victory, Young Africans now boast impressive statistics, including 55 goals scored and only nine conceded over the course of their campaign, reflecting both their attacking prowess and defensive strength. They now lead the league with 55 points from 21 matches, including 18 wins, one draw, and two losses. Mashujaa remains eighth with 23 points from the same number of matches, underscoring the stark difference between the two teams.
This match has left fans and analysts alike considering the upcoming fixtures for both teams, especially as Young Africans looks to maintain their lead against the closely-following Simba SC, currently sitting at 50 points but with two matches still to play.