Momodou Ceesay’s 7th minute opener proved a mere consolation in the end as the Scorpions again let slip a first half lead, this time to lose 2-1 to the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in the second game of the 2014 African World Cup qualifier for Group C at Darussalam’s National Stadium on Sunday.

The Gambia, who in their home game against Morocco let slip a first half lead to draw 1-1 with the North Africans, having led for the entirety of the first half, succumbed to a Shomari Kapombe equaliser on the hour mark while Erasto Nyoni scored the winner from the penalty spot five minutes from time after a Gambian defender handled the ball in the area.

The defeat has dented the Scorpionsdreams of securing a maiden World Cup berth in the South American country, as it has left them with only a solitary point from two games. They are now rooted at the bottom of the table.

Luciano Mancini made only one change to the team that started in the game against Morocco last week with Saihou Gassama replacing Tijan Jaiteh who missed the game due to personal reasons. But having spent the entire half on the back foot, the Scorpions somehow managed to score a goal from their only scoring opportunity in the entire first period when MSK Zilina’s Momodou Ceesay headed in a Saihou Gassama cross after only seven minutes.

Tanzania were the better side in the first half but after a cracking effort that ricocheted off Christopher Allen’s post, they posed little threat at the Gambian goal while the GPA keeper again had a great game even when the Taifa Stars went past the Gambian defence.

Following a bright start to the second half, the Scorpions faded out in the game and the home side took control. After Kapombe’s headed goal in the 60th minute, the Stars never looked back. They continued to push on and when all Gambians were hoping that they will escape with a point, a penalty was awarded against the Scorpions by Zimbabwean referee Ruzive, which was calmly slotted in by Nyoni for the winner.

The Tanzanians, who were hoping to post their first win in the qualifiers following their 2-0 defeat to Ivory Coast in their opening game, took fulladvantage of their home ground to win the match and keep alive their chances. Also, the East African nation sees The Gambia as the weaker side in a group also having Morocco and the Ivory Coast, with the press back homepredicting that a home loss to the Gambians would touch a strain of despair about the national side among local fans.

But the Danish coach Kim Poulsen who succeeded his namesake in the dugout earlier this year spared the blushes of the Tanzanians as they are now in second position in the group with four points, ahead of third place Morocco who were made to grind out a stoppage time equaliser to draw 2-2 at home to Ivory Coast on Saturday.