Bandari Recover To Sink Simba, Punch SportPesa Cup Final Ticket

25th January 2019 - by Louis Kalinga

Home favourites took the lead through Kagere before Wadri, Lugogo sealed comeback 2-1 victory in first semi final

DOCKER'S PRIDE: Bandari FC players celebrate William Wadri's goal in the second half of the first 2019 SportPesa Cup semi final at the Main National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania on January 25, 2018. PHOTO/SPN

SUMMARY

Meddie Kagere gave the Tanzania Premier League champions the lead on the stroke of half time when he thumped the ball into the net to give Simba a 1-0 lead at the break
In the 72nd, Wadri sent in a low free kick into the area that Manula got a hand to but his clearance landed in the feet of Lugogo who produced the decisive moment of the match with the goal that sent his team to Sunday’s final.
Simba, the beaten finalists last year, will play the losers of the second semi in the third-placed play-off that will precede the main event

DAR-ES-SALAAM, Tanzania- Debutants Bandari FC of Kenya shocked home favourites Simba SC with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory to become the first team to book a place in the 2019 SportPesa Cup finals.

Meddie Kagere gave the Tanzania Premier League champions the lead on the stroke of half time when he thumped the ball into the net to give Simba a 1-0 lead at the break.

Man-of-the-match William Wadri then scored his second penalty of the tournament to level the contest before getting involved when Wilberforce Lugogo notched the winner with a daisy cutter inside the box that went in off the post.

Bandari will play the winner of the other semi between countrymen, Kariobangi Sharks FC and Mbao FC who dumped out two-time winners Gor Mahia FC of Kenya in the quarters.

Kagere, the Golden Boot winner in the last two editions of the eight team invitational regional tournament produced the first real moment of quality when the smashed a well taken right-footed strike into the net.

Bandari came back stronger in the second half and levelled matters from the spot through William Wadri, with his second goal of the competition and substitute Wilberforce Lugogo.

Played in scorching heat both teams took time to impose themselves as the first half kicked off with weather affecting even the visiting team that used to playing in coastal conditions in their home city of Mombasa.

David King’atua, who came off the bench in the Docker’s quarterfinal win over Singida United FC getting the first shot at goal as his left footed effort went wide of Aishi Manula’s goal in the minute with James Kotei threatening for the TPL champions four minutes later.

Bandari did well to win a free kick after a foul on Abdallah Hassan that his teammate King’atua struck beautifully but was unlucky to see it fly inches over the bar.

The heat took its toll as the teams struggled to create clear-cut chances with Wadri and Yema Mwama shooting wastefully over when they sniffed Simba’s goal.

GOTCHA: Simba SC keeper, Aisha Manula (right) claims the ball as teammate Jonas Mkude keeps close attention on Bandari FC striker, Wycliffe Ochomo (centre) during the first 2019 SportPesa Cup semi final at the Main National Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania on January 25, 2019. PHOTO/SPN

Kagere tested Bandari keeper Farouk Shikhalo in the half hour before teammate Clatous Chama, the scorer of the winner in their 2-1 victory over AFC Leopards SC, forced the Docker’s custodian to a diving save in the 40th.

Just when it looked like the team would go in level at 0-0, Kagere pounced on a quick counter to give Simba the advantage with a thunderous shot that beat Shikhalo all ends up after pouncing on the ball from the counter.

Simba made three changes at the break bringing on Uganda star winger, Emmanuel Okwi, Haruna Niyonzima and Pascal Wawa.

Bandari head coach Bernard Mwalala- a former Yanga star- also turned to his bench for inspiration and made his first change in the 54th.

Tanzanian National Abdallah Hamisi was replaced by Lugogo, who immediately sent a wicked right-footed effort that went over the bar as the new man sought to find his team a way back to the contest.

The referee then pointed to the spot in the 55th as Hassan forced a challenge out of Yassin Mzamiru who was eventually stretchered out injured but received a yellow card for his crude tackle, with Jonas Mkude coming in.

Wadri stepped up to convert his second penalty of the tournament to level the scores at 1-1.

Shiza Kichuya came on in the 64th for Chama, much to the appreciation and applause of the Simba fans in the stadium.

In the 68th, Mwama made way for Wycliffe Ochomo as Mwalala sought a more physical presence up front and he went on to make a nuisance of himself and was involved in the move that lead to the winner when he was bundled over near the right corner flag.

Set-piece specialist Wadri then sent in a low free kick into the area that Manula got a hand to but his clearance landed in the feet of Lugogo and with a swoosh of his boot, the ball ended in the Simba net via a post with the keeper stranded.

Simba, the beaten finalists last year, will now play the losers of the second semi in the third-placed play-off that will precede the main event having fallen at the semis for the second time in their home tournament following their elimination on penalties by Leopards in the inaugural edition in Dar.