YOUNG Africans SC secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Coastal Union in an NBC Premier League match played at the Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday evening.

The hard-fought victory saw Young Africans SC, alias Yanga, extend their lead to eight points atop the league standings.

The Jangwani Street club will now lock horns with Tabora United in the CRDB Federation Cup quarterfinal clash in the city on Wednesday.

An early cross from Yanga midfielder Stephane Aziz Ki had Coastal Union’s keeper Ley Matampi scrambling early on but the Congolese stopper did get down well to deny Ivorian forward Joseph Guede, with Coastal Union under significant pressure in the early stages of the game.

Guede was unlucky again in the 22nd minute when his header hit the crossbar. Six minutes later, left fullback Nickson Kibabage's thunderous strike hit the post as Yanga pushed for an opener.

Yanga continued putting Coastal Union under siege in the second half as Matampi single-handedly kept the score line goalless. 

Gamondi’s charges made the most of Coastal Union central defender Lameck Lawi’s sending-off in the 70th minute to get the winner five minutes later.

Ivorian right fullback Attohoula Yao delivered a sublime cross, which was turned home by Guede to hand Yanga maximum points and edge closer to a third successive league title.

Gamondi was left happy with his team's calmness when they kept missing chances before eventually securing the hard-fought win.

The Argentine revealed: “We expected a difficult game. This is a very organized team, they played very well in defense. I think we had a good performance, their first shot was in the 33rd minute. We created a lot of chances, their goalkeeper was unbelievable.”

“We hit the post, crossbar and it was a clear penalty as well in the first half which could have changed the game,” Gamondi remarked.

“I am very happy because the player kept quiet, and calm and kept passing the ball around, not frustrated or rushed because we missed chances. And finally, the goal came and this is what we talked about in the first half,” the gaffer disclosed.

The Argentine said: “We need to continue like that and feel frustrated because the ball is not hitting the net. Football is like that sometimes.”

“We are happy we have Joseph Guede, he is a fantastic striker as well. He found the situation and scored the goal,” Gamondi noted.

He concluded: “I am very happy because we have come a long way, playing game after game is not easy.”