High flying Yanga put Mazembe to the sword in Dar

• Yanga thrashed TP Mazembe 3-1 in Dar es Salaam
• They picked their first win of the group stages
• Nigeria’s Rivers United also won

Tanzanian league champions Young Africans (Yanga) earned a convincing 3-1 victory over Congolese giants TP Mazembe in their second group match of the CAF Confederation Cup in Dar es Salaam.

Yanga who started off their campaign with defeat away to Tunisia’s US Monastir picked up a statement win against Mazembe at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. Kennedy Musonda, Mudathir Yahya and Tusila Kisinda scored the goals as Yanga moved second in Group D.

The home side, powered by a capacity crown in the capital had a brilliant start, racing to a 2-0 lead within the opening 11 minutes. Zambian Musonda broke the deadlock after just seven minutes on the clock when he powered home a header from the edge of the six yard box off a Jesus Moloko freekick.

Four minutes later, Yahya scored the second in delightful fashion, Musonda turning provider by lumping a ball behind the defense and the former running through to it and looping the ball over the keeper.

Mazembe were rattled and they tried to get back into the game. Adam Bosou had a chance in the 28th minute when a freekick from skipper Kofi Kouame found him at the backpost, but his header couldn’t land on target.

Yanga pile pressure in second half 

In the second half Yanga continued piling the pressure, though Mazembe showed resilience to try and bridge the gap. They eventually halved the deficit in the 80th minute through Alex Ngonga’s freekick, but Yanga put the game back to safety with Kisinda scoring the third in the third minute of added time.

Meanwhile, US Monastir retained their place on top of the group after a 1-1 draw away to Real de Bamako of Mali. Zied Aloui grabbed the equalizer for the Tunisians in the 77th minute.

Makan Samabaly had given Bamako the lead at home three minutes after the break.

Elsewhere in other matches, Nigeria’s Rivers United bounced back from their opening day thrashing at the hands of Diables Noirs by hitting Asec Mimosas 3-0 on Sunday.

Rivers had lost via the same margin on the opening day, and they made a response in kind to earn their first points in Group B. Malachi Ohawuma scored the quickest goal of the group stages taking the Nigerians ahead within the opening minute of the game.

Williams scores second

They had to wait till the 42nd minute when Ukeme Williams scored their second, taking their halftime lead to 2-0. Three minutes after the restart, they had completed the job with Denis Ndasi hitting the back of the net for their third.

Rivers are second in the group while Asec are bottom from the single point they picked form their opening day draw against DC Motema Pembe.

Meanwhile, Future FC and Pyramids FC played to a 1-1 draw in the Egyptian derby. The experienced Pyramids were first to score through Mohamed Hamdi, with Future responding through Mohamed Ghanam in the second half.

At the same time, Al Alhdar of Libya bounced back from their opening day 4-1 humbling at the hands of Marumo Gallants to play to a 1-1 draw with USM Alger.