'We were lucky', says Yanga coach

Coach Hans van Pluijm.

Mailand premier soccer league pacemakers Young Africans might have put lackluster performance in a hard-fought 3-2 victory over visiting Stand United at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, but winning three points was all that mattered, the team’s coach Hans van Pluijm, has said.

 

Yanga came from a goal down to grab the crucial three points but the team defensive displays, to some extent, left a lot to be desired. The squad's defense marshaled by  Mbuyu Twite and Rajab Zahir struggled to contain Stand United strikers who were led by their prolific Nigerian import striker Absirim Chidiebere. 

 

Yanga’s Burundi striker Amisi Tambwe, scored the first goal for the league leaders on the 30th minute and speedy striker, Mrisho Ngasa, banged in the second goal on the third minute of the first half's added on time. 

 

Winger Simon Msuva, who currently leads the chase for the league's golden boot award, scored the third for the Jangwani Street side from the spot kick on the 79th minute to bring his goals' tally to 14.

 

The victory has seen Yanga widen their points' gap with the league's defending champions and second-placed Azam FC to seven. Azam had edged Kagera Sugar 2-1 in the match played at the Azam Complex last Saturday to collect 42 points. 

 

Striker Kheri Khalifa scored Stand United's two goals in the Tuesday game in either half.

 

Pluijm admitted that Stand United staged stiff opposition to his team for the better part of the game and the former noted that the latter's defensive mistakes were fully exploited by the Shinyanga side to notch the two goals.

 

"They (Stand United) have given us a very tough match. The two goals they scored against us were caused by defensive mistakes...there was no communication between defenders", Pluijm said.

 

"They could have equalised (the third goal) with the chance they had in the closing stages of the match...it has not been our day". 

"All in all, I'm happy with the three points we have got because that's what we are after", the Netherlands coach added.

 

Stand United coach, Ugandan Mathias Lule, expressed satisfaction over the performance showcased by his team and disclosed that luck was not in his squad's side.

 

"The performance was good, it has not been our chance. We are, though, still striving to maintain our place in the league next season", Lule said.

 

Yanga missed the services of their key first choice squad's players, central defenders, skipper Nadir Haroub and Kelvin Yondani, as well as midfielder Salum Telela who are nursing injuries.

 

Yanga will have an opportunity to officially wrestle the league's title from Azam, when the former take on Ruvu Shooting at the same venue tomorrow.