DAR ES SALAAM (Interstat) — Amy Mapaka scored in the 89th minute as TRA United SC beat Singida Fountain Gate FC 3-2 in a football match on Monday. Mapaka entered as a substitute and supplied the late finish after the home side had surrendered a two-goal lead. TRA United SC moved to 2-3-5 in the competition and across all competitions. Singida Fountain Gate FC fell to 0-4-2 in the competition and across all competitions.

TRA United SC started brightly and took the lead in the 32nd minute when Elijah Ani scored. Ani’s goal came after a spell of pressure from the home side. Emmanuel Mwanengo doubled the advantage in the 39th minute, giving TRA United SC a 2-0 cushion at halftime. The first half had been controlled by TRA United SC, which created the better chances and kept Singida Fountain Gate FC from finding a rhythm before the break.

Singida Fountain Gate FC responded after halftime. The visitors pulled one goal back in the 61st minute and then equalized in the 66th, suddenly turning a comfortable TRA United SC lead into a tense contest. The two goals gave Singida Fountain Gate FC renewed energy, and the match became stretched as both sides pushed for another breakthrough. TRA United SC had to reorganize defensively, while Singida Fountain Gate FC sought a third goal that would have completed the comeback.

TRA United SC regrouped and pressed for the winner. Mapaka, who had only just entered the match, found the decisive goal in the 89th minute. The late strike restored TRA United SC’s advantage and left Singida Fountain Gate FC with little time to respond. The result gave TRA United SC a second win in the competition this season while Singida Fountain Gate FC remained without a victory.

Singida Fountain Gate FC’s season record in the competition is now 0 wins, 4 losses and 2 draws. TRA United SC’s season record in the competition is now 2 wins, 3 losses and 5 draws. Both clubs hold the same records across all competitions. Singida Fountain Gate FC entered after a loss to Simba and had also drawn with Geita Gold and Pamba Jiji FC, lost to JKT Tanzania and lost to Young Africans SC in competition play. TRA United SC’s recent run included a scoreless draw with Singida Fountain Gate FC, draws with Geita Gold, Singida Black Stars SC, MCC FC, Coastal Union and JKT Tanzania, a loss to Namungo, a win at Pamba Jiji FC, a home loss to Dodoma and a road loss to Azam. TRA United SC had drawn its previous three competition matches before Monday. Singida Fountain Gate FC had gone five competition matches without a win before this game.

TRA United SC is next scheduled to travel to Kagera Sugar. The club’s upcoming competition schedule also includes a trip to Mashujaa FC, home matches against Polisi, Simba, Coastal Union, JKT Tanzania, Pamba Jiji FC and Black Stars, and road matches against Dodoma and Polisi. Singida Fountain Gate FC will look to recover in its next competition fixture.

The match featured five goals after a measured opening. TRA United SC held the upper hand for much of the first half, but Singida Fountain Gate FC’s two quick goals after the break changed the tempo. Both teams had chances in the final 20 minutes, and the game remained level until Mapaka’s late intervention. TRA United SC’s bench made the difference when Mapaka scored shortly after entering.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of TRA United SC 1, Singida Fountain Gate FC 0. Interstat’s ELO system had projected TRA United SC with a 77.5 percent probability to win. TRA United SC had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 5 went under the over/under line of 2.5.