The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Dorice Malyaga
7 July 2009
Kigoma continued to shine in this year's edition of the Copa Coca-Cola championship after crushing Rukwa 5-2 at Karume Memorial Stadium.
Playing an enterprising football, Rukwa broke the deadlock barely five minutes into the first half through Filbert Simwela.
The scorer drove a powerful 25-metre volley that easily beat Kigoma's custodian, Mrisho Daudi.
Rukwa continued to trouble Kigoma's defence with a series of attacks, but as the match continued the latter regained poise and forced Rukwa into a defensive game.
In the 30th minute, promising marksman Baruani Akilimali completed Mataka Salum's pass to slam in an equaliser.
The teams went to the breather tied 1-1, with Rukwa enjoying a lion's share of possession in the first half.
It was Simwela again who capitalised on Kigoma's defensive blunder to score his second goal in the 62nd minute.
Kigoma squandered an opportunity to equalise four minutes later when Najim Benjamin failed to score from a penalty kick.
In the 70th minute, Aman Katumka equalised and two minutes later Akilimali added the third goal before sealing his hat trick in the 74th minute.
Akilimali continued to trouble the Rukwa defenders as he outpaced them to wrap up the score in the 78th minute.
At Tanganyika Packers ground, Kagera mauled Mwanza 3-1 while Mtwara fought bravely to post a slim 1-0 win over Iringa.
According to the fixture, Kilimanjaro take on Pemba South today while Ruvuma will face off Singida.
Other matches would pit Zanzibar Urban West against Lindi and Zanzibar North against Kigoma while Mara would be all out to face Mbeya.
Tanga will play red-hot Ilala at Karume Memorial Stadium and Morogoro are set to lock horns with Iringa at Kawe.
The first two teams in each group will qualify for the quarterfinals, which would kick off on July 9.
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