DAR ES SALAAM: SIMBA maintained their unbeaten run in the Mainland Premier League yesterday, edging Fountain Gate FC 1-0 at Tanzanite Kwara Stadium in Dar es Salaam to consolidate their position at the top of the standings.

Captain Rushine De Reuck scored the decisive goal in the 34th minute, heading home from Nathan Chilambo’s free-kick after a Football Video Support (FVS) review overturned an initial offside decision.

The victory took Simba to 27 points, opening a five-point gap over arch-rivals Young Africans, while Fountain Gate remained rooted at the bottom of the table with six points.

Simba dominated much of the contest, particularly in the first half, with their sustained attacking pressure forcing Fountain Gate goalkeeper Machupa Kapili into a string of important saves.

However, the hosts’ defensive resilience and occasional counterattacks ensured the visitors had to work hard for all three points. Fountain Gate threatened early through Kassim Haruna, who surged forward on a counterattack and drove towards Simba’s penalty area.

The move, however, was contained by Simba’s defence before it could develop into a clear scoring opportunity. The hosts adopted a compact, low defensive block, seeking to frustrate Simba and limit the space available to their attackers.

Simba responded by pressing high and moving the ball purposefully in search of a breakthrough. In the 12th minute, Elie Mpanzu received a through ball from Chilambo and tested Kapili, who reacted well to deny the forward.

Eight minutes later, the goalkeeper was again called into action after Libasse Gueye beat his marker on the right flank and supplied Mpanzu, whose strike was kept out. Kapili’s resistance was finally broken in the 34th minute, although the goal required an intervention from the FVS officials.

Gueye had been fouled by Obinna Awara two minutes earlier, and Chilambo delivered the resulting free-kick into the penalty area. De Reuck rose above the defence to head the ball into the net, only for the assistant referee to flag for offside.

Following an FVS review, the decision was overturned, with De Reuck adjudged to have been onside. The goal stood, giving Simba a deserved lead and send – ing their play- ers into cele- bration. Simba resumed the second half with renewed attacking intent, eager to extend their advantage and avoid a late scare.

Midfielder Morice Abraham supplied Mpanzu with a wellweighted pass, allowing the forward to drive past his marker before firing a low shot. But Kapili remained equal to the challenge, producing another save to keep Fountain Gate within striking distance.

The hosts had a promising opportunity to restore parity in the 60th minute when Sadick Ramadhani delivered a ball into the penalty area from the left.

His delivery found Ramadhani Jumaa unmarked, but the forward slid in and narrowly failed to make the decisive connection.

Simba continued to threaten as the match approached its closing stages. A well-coordinated passing move culminated in Clatous Chama playing a through ball towards winger Keletso Makgalwa, who attempted to find the top corner.

Kapili stretched to make the save, once again denying the visitors a second goal. Despite their control of the match, Simba were not entirely without vulnerabilities.

Goalkeeper Djibril Kassali advanced from his line on occasion, inviting Fountain Gate to attempt shots towards goal. However, Simba’s defenders remained alert, positioning themselves well to block the resulting efforts and protect their slender advantage.