Mbeya City 1-1 Ihefu FC: City rivals share spoils to stay bottom

Mbeya City lost a chance to get closer to safety when they played out a 1-1 draw at home to Ihefu FC in a Tanzania Mainland League match played on Monday.

Omary Mponda was the first to score in favour of the visitors before Denis Kibu leveled matters for the hosts.

Monday's meeting was the first between the two teams in Tanzania top-flight football and the two bottom-placed teams came into the match desperate to get maximum points.

Prior to the game, Ihefu, who are bottom of the table, had managed a win, a draw, and six losses while their opponents had gotten a win, two draws, and five losses in the eight games they had both played.

It was the Rujewa-based side who opened the scoring. Concentration lapses allowed a cross from the right which was excellently headed in by Mponda after 14 minutes.

Ihefu were playing well with defensive discipline, with their hosts getting frustrated by the failure to get an equalizer. 

In the 57th minute, a good cross was brought in from the right and Ihefu defenders failed to clear the danger. Andrew Kayuni headed the ball to Kibu, who did well to control the ball before unleashing a good strike which the goalkeeper could not stop.

Neither of the two teams could get another goal in the remaining 30 minutes or so.

Ihefu remain at the bottom of the table with five points from the nine games they have played, one point fewer than their city rivals who are a position higher. 

On Sunday, Kagera Sugar, who are also struggling to get off the danger zone, managed to bag maximum points after defeating their fellow Sugar Millers Mtibwa Sugar 2-1.

In the game played at Kaitaba Stadium in Bukoba, Awadh Juma opened the scoring in favour of the visiting Mtibwa in the 43rd minute.

Vitalisy Mayanga levelled matters in the 67th minute before Yusuf Mhilu struck the winner two minutes later.

Azam FC and Young Africans Sports Club (Yanga SC) are joint top of the table with 22 points while Simba SC are third with 16 points.