Simba Cage Leopards, Book Bandari SportPesa Cup Semi Date

DAR-ES-SALAAM, Tanzania- Simba SC made it a good day for Tanzania by sinking AFC Leopards SC 2-1 in the last and signature 2019 SportPesa Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday evening at the National Main Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam.

The Dar giants and league champions joined upstarts and local rivals Mbao FC who earlier stunned two-time holders Gor Mahia FC to complete the semi final line-up of the tournament.

They will play Kenyan sides Bandari FC and Kariobangi Sharks FC who punched their last four tickets by prevailing past Yanga SC and Singida United FC of Tanzania on Tuesday.

Crowd favourite and Simba Captain Emmanuel Okwi scored and early opener and then set up Clatous Chama to score the second in the opening minutes of the second half to put them firmly in the driving seat.

However, they were made to endure nervous moments when Vincent Oburu came off the bench to get a goal back for the visitors for his second SP Cup goal after finding the net in the 2017 quarter final.

Try as they might though, Leopards could not force an equaliser or turn around the match as they exited the invitational eight-team tournament at the first barrier for the second year in a row having lost the 2017 final to domestic arch-rivals Gor.

Simba on the other hand, underlined their status as favourites particularly after watching Gor, the team that caged them 2-0 in the 2018 decider at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru sensationally crash out of the tournament.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi will get the semis underway when they face Bandari FC, a team coached by a former Yanga star Bernard Mwalala at 2pm EAT before giant-killing Mbao and Sharks face off at 4:15pm.

In living to the tournament theme of the Tanzania versus Kenya football battle, Leopards joined eternal rivals Gor- who shockingly crashed out 3-4 on post match penalties to underdogs Mbao in the 2019 SP Cup scrap heap.

Okwi danger

On Day 1, it was turn of home fans to leave the National Stadium sullen after Yanga and Singida were knocked out by Kenyan opposition to set up an even semi final line-up.

In truth, Simba were the favourites and in Okwi, they have a player capable of carrying any side to the trophy and on another sweltering afternoon, the Uganda international gave the watching crowd a reminder of his lethal abilities.

SIMBA BINGWA: Simba SC fans cheer their team as it beat AFC Leopards SC of Kenya 2-1 in the last quarterfinal of the 2019 SportPesa Cup at the National Main Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania on January 23, 2019. PHOTO/SPN

The game was only 13 minutes old when after firing early warnings, fashioned the open when he left the Leopards defence in his wake inside the box, twisting and turning them into a heap before scoring via a deflected finish. 

That invigorated the home fans and their star player was in the mood as he sped down the right flank past Isaac Oduro in the 21st and sent a dipping ball into the box but Hunledde Kisimbo failed to get on the end of it- Leopards lucky not to go two down. 

Edward Seda then got the first shot on target for the visiting team in the 26th but it was straight at experienced keeper Aishi Manula. 

Seven minutes after Eugene Mukangula found space in midfield and sent a wicked left shot towards goal that went inches over Manula’s crossbar. 

Simba almost double their advantage in the 38th after some good work from Karim Niyonzima in midfield but the final ball went wide of Jairus Adira’s goal. 

Hassan Dilunga did well to compose himself in the box before laying it off for Okwi but the resulting shot went straight into Adira’s hands as the home side went to the breather ahead. 

Former Gor striker and tournament record scorer Meddie Kagere came on at the start of the second half, replacing Kissimbo much to the delight of Simba fans who have given him the imposing MK14 nickname. 

Turned provider

But there was only one star man, Okwi who then turned provider in the 48th setting up Zambian Chama who scored with a right-footed effort to give the hosts a two-goal lead. 

Oburu was the first change for Leopards three minutes in place of Wayyekka in a straight swap by Serbian head coach Marko Vesiljevik as the match turned into a salvage mission for the 12-time Kenyan champions. 

Okwi then received a yellow card after tagging Whyvonne Isuza to the ground to prevent a dangerous counter attack after he lost the ball.

Adira has to be keen in the 56th as Chama threatened to make it three for the hosts but his shot went inches over the bar. 

In the 61st, substitute Oburu got a goal back for the visitors after some good work by Ezekiel Okaka down the right flank, setting up an enthralling final half hour. 

Mzamiru Yassin then came on to replace Okwi much to the relief of the Leopards’ defenders. 

Despite a raft of substitutions as the clock wound down, Leopards could not force another as Simba held them at bay with the final whistle bringing a huge roar from their fans.

With that, the 2019 #SportPesaCup tournament score now reads Tanzania 2, Kenya 2.

2019 SP CUP SUMMARY

QUARTER FINAL RESULTS

Singida United FC 0 Bandari FC 1

Yanga SC 2 Kariobangi Sharks FC 3

Mbao FC 1 (4) Gor Mahia FC 1 (3)

Simba SC 2 AFC Leopards SC 1

SEMI FINAL FIXTURES (EAT) FRIDAY, JANUARY 25

2.00 pm: Bandari vs Simba

4.15pm: Sharks vs Mbao