Tanzania 3-2 Madagascar: Taifa Stars go top of Group J after hard-fought win in 2022 World Cup qualifier

Tanzania beat Madagascar 3-2 in a dramatic encounter to go top of Group J in their 2022 World Cup qualifier at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Tuesday.

Erasto Nyoni and Novatus Dismus gave Taifa Stars an early 2-0 lead. However, the visitors fought back to ensure they went to the break on level terms courtesy of Njiva Rakotomarimalala and Thomas Fontaine goals. Yanga SC star Feisal Salum ensured Stars went top of the group with a second-half goal.

The hosts needed just 10 seconds to win a penalty. They started the ball and Dismas played long in search of Simon Msuva. Barea defenders failed to clear the danger, and in a bid to save the situation, goalkeeper Adrien Melvin brought down Msuva.

The referee had no option but to hand Stars a penalty which was well executed by Erasto Nyoni to give his team an early advantage.

Taifa Stars settled and in early exchanges, they were the better side by far as Madagascar struggled to find their footing. Captain Mbwana Samatta had a massive chance to double the advantage in the 20th minute.

Reliant Lusajo crossed the ball from the left, and it kindly fell to the unmarked forward whose header missed the target. 

However, it mattered less as Dismus scored the second goal for the East Africans. The defenders, once again, failed to clear their lines and the ball was collected by the midfielder. From 40-yards out, he dribbled his way into the danger zone before calmly slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.

In the 28th and 30th minutes, Barea managed to get two off-target attempts courtesy of Rayan Raveloson and Romain Metanire that did little to trouble Aishi Manula in the Tanzania goal.

Tanzania became too comfortable and they paid the price in the 36th minute. The ball was crossed from the left by Loic Lapoussin. Mohamed Hussein was caught napping by substitute Rakotomarimalala who easily tapped the ball into the net.

The industrious Samatta managed to get space outside the 18-yard area in the 39th minute, but his ambitious shot missed the target by inches.

With a minute to the break, Nyoni committed a foul against Hakim Abdallah 20-yards from goal. It was taken by Fontaine and Manula failed to keep it out.

After the pause, Barea looked more comfortable and tried to increase their attacks hoping to get a third.

But it was the Stars who managed to score in the 52nd minute. Samatta went past his markers before spotting the unmarked Feisal Salum. He passed the ball to him and the Wananchi star comfortably beat the goalkeeper from 18-yards to make it 3-2 in favour of his team.

In the 60th minute, Tanzania were nearly punished after Bastien Hery played a cross into the danger zone. But the totally unmarked Abdallah headed above the crossbar with the goal at his mercy. 

Moments later, the visitors were almost punished when Dismus beat his marker before passing the ball to Salum. But the latter missed the sitter much to the relief of Barea.

The East Africans are on four points, the same as second-placed Benin while DR Congo come in third with two. Madagascar are at the bottom of the table with no point.