Zanzibar went to the top of pool A after downing Tanzania 2-1 in the Council for East and Central Football Association (CECAFA) Senior Challenge on Thursday afternoon at Machakos stadium.
At the same time, Burundi beat Ethiopia 4-1 in another encounter.
The winners came from a goal down to beat their mainland rivals Tanzania. A goal apiece from Khamis Suleiman Khamis and Ibrahim Ahmed to achieve 100% wins in the tournament.
The win propelled them to the top of pool A with six points for the Islanders. Tanzania went ahead through Himid Mao of Azam on 30th minute.
Zanzibar moves on top of the table with two ahead of hosts Kenya whom they play on Saturday evening at the same venue.
Tanzania had hugely played second fiddle to their Zanzibar brothers in the opening minutes of the game, but were the first to break the deadlock when midfielder Mao picked up the ball after a one-two interchange of passes with striker Daniel Lyanga before shooting low past the keeper.
It was a huge heartbreak for Zanzibar who had dominated possession in the opening minutes, wowing the handful of fans at the Kenyatta Stadium with their precise passing and movement.
Zanzibar should have broken the deadlock in the 16th minute when an onrushing Hamad missed by a hair’s breadth Mohammed Issa Juma’s cross from the right, with only keeper Aishi Manula to beat
Hamad had another chance in the 21st minute when he controlled a Haji Mininya cross from the left but his shot unmarked inside the box was well collected by Manula in the Tanzania goal.
After going ahead, Tanzania grew in confidence and began to dominate the game more and impose their superiority over Zanzibar. Seeing his side being drained, Zanzibar coach Hemed Suleiman pulled oit Hamad Makame for Suleiman Kassim Selembe.
The islanders came back stronger in the second half and in the 57th minute they had a golden chance which they missed. Hamad put Mudathir Yahya through on goal with only the keeper to beat but the midfielder placed the ball wide.
Five minutes later, Mininya who had been enterprising on the left wing floated in a decent cross but Kassim Suleiman’s connection went over.
Their pressure finally bore fruit in the 67th minute when Suleiman drew them level after picking up Ibrahim Said’s cross from the right, outmuscling his marker inside the box and curling the ball beyond Aishi Manula in the Tanzania goal.
Twelve minutes later, they were away with the win when Hamad tapped in from a yard out after Selembe’s low cross from the left had evaded everyone inside the box.