Simba beat AS Vita Club 2-1 in the CAF Champions League Group D match at the National Stadium on Saturday evening.

The victory saw Tanzanian giants Simba book their place in the quarter-finals as Group D runners-up, while DRC’s Vita Club bowed out of the competition after finishing fourth.

Simba were seeking vengeance against Vita Club, who thumped them 5-0 in DRC on match-day two.

The visitors grabbed an early goal through Kazadi Kasengu, who beat Aishi Manula in Simba goal-posts to make it 1-0 to Vita Club – silencing the home crowd.

However, the hosts pushed forward in numbers and they managed to restore parity after the half-hour mark through Mohamed Hussein.

The 24-year-old, who is a defender by trade, hit the back of the net to make it 1-1 for Simba much to the delight of the home crowd.

The score was 1-1 at half-time with Simba having fought back to hold Vita Club.

Simba introduced Rwanda international Harouna Niyonzima after the restart as they looked to take the lead for the first time on the night.

The hosts were frustrated by the Vita Club defence which was marshalled by experienced defender Nelson Munganga.

However, Simba never gave up in the closing stages of the game and they did find a late winning goal through Clatous Chama.

The Zambia international beat Vita Club’s Cameroonian keeper Nelson Lukong in the 90th minute to seal Simba’s 2-1 victory over the visitors.

Simba (1) 2 Hussein 36′, Chama 90′)
Vita (1) 1 (Kasengu 13′)

Simba: Manula, Gyan, Juuko, Wawa, Hussein, Kotei (Mtabwigma 85′), Mkude, Yassin (Dilunga 78′), Chama, Okwi (Niyonzima 58′), Kagere.

Vita Club: Lukong, Bompunga, Bangala, Shabani, Sita(Mumbere 73′), Munganga, Ngoma, Ngonda, Kisinda (Moloko 61′), Kasengu, Makusu (Manzoki 64′).