Simba SC 3-0 Al Merrikh: Mnyama almost through to last eight of Caf Champions League

Simba SC have put one foot in the quarter-finals of the Caf Champions League after a 3-0 win over Al Merrikh at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Luis Miquissone, Chris Mugalu, and Mohamed Hassan struck once each to ensure Wekundu wa Msimbazi got a vital win in Group A.

The hosts came into the match as clear favourites owing to their quality and recent run in the competition. They had collected seven points from the initial three matches, as compared to their opponents who had managed one.

It seemed the odds were against the Red Devils as Abdelrahman Isaac, Bakhit Khamis, Ahmed Abdelmoneim, Tajeddin Yaqoub, Ramadan Ajab, Tony Edjomariegwe, Bakri Al Madina, and Saif Ad Damazin were ruled out of the game after testing positive for Covid-19 prior to the start of the match.

The hosts needed just 18 minutes to open the scoring when poor defending allowed the ball to reach Clatous Chama, who picked out the unmarked Miquissone. The Mozambican had no problem finding the back of the net to score his second of the tournament.

In the 22nd minute, it seemed the Sudanese heavyweights would pull level when Jamaican Darren Mattocks managed to get past his marker, but Harambee Star Joash Onyango pulled a last-ditch tackle to save his team.

Moments later, Congolese Mugalu had an opportunity to get his name on the score sheet when he was cleverly played in by Ghanaian Bernard Morrison, but he shot over the bar from about 10-yards out.

Simba were comfortable on the ball and stretched their opponents who at some point looked lost after failing to penetrate the defence.

Mnyama were rewarded for their persistence in the 39th minute when captain Hussein was let loose on the left wing and Morrison picked him out. The left-back kept his cool before slotting the ball past Monged Abuzaid.

After the half-time break, the 21-time Tanzania Mainland League champions needed just five minutes to score the third goal. Miquissone crossed the ball to Mugalu who chested it down before hitting home and scoring his second goal in this season's edition.

In another Group A game, defending champions Al Ahly defeated their hosts AS Vita 3-0 in Kinshasa. 

Mohamed Sherif, Mohamed Magdi Kashfa, and Taher Mohammed scored the goals for the Egyptian giants.  

As it stands, Simba lead the standings with 10 points, three more than the second-placed champions while the Congolese outfit are in third with four points. Al Merrikh are at the bottom with one point.