APR FC humiliate hapless Rayon Sports

National Football league Rayon Sports 0-4 APR Police 0-0 Marines Rayon Sports interim head coach Sosthene Habimana believes that his side can still win the league title despite suffering a humiliating 4-0 loss to archrivals APR in the National Football League yesterday at Amahoro stadium.

Sunday, February 22, 2015
APR players celebrate after scoring the 3rd goal. (Sam Ngendahimana)

National Football league

Rayon Sports 0-4 APRPolice 0-0 MarinesAmagaju 0-1 SunriseIsonga 0-0 KiyovuMusanze 0-0 GicumbiMukura 0-3 AS KigaliEtincelles 0-0 Espoir

Rayon Sports interim head coach Sosthene Habimana believes that his side can still win the league title despite suffering a humiliating 4-0 loss to archrivals APR in the National Football League yesterday at Amahoro stadium.

The loss leaves the Blues 13 points adrift table leaders APR who have 38 points from 16 games but Habimana is confident Rayon Sports can overturn this deficit.

In an interview with Times Sport, Habimana said, "The battle for the league title is not yet over. We are capable of making a strong comeback and that is our target from now onwards. Our focus now is to win all our remaining 10 games.”

APR defender Albert Ngabo goes past Rayon Sports' Peter Otema.

Habimana admitted that the Blues did not create worthy chances throughout the game and blamed the quick successive goals on lack of concentration.

Striker Michel Ndahinduka opened the scoring in the 75th minute before Emery Bayisenge converted a well taken freekick from 30 yards, past the hapless Rayon Sports’ goalkeeper Eric Ndayishimiye four minutes later.

In the 85th minute, midfielder Yannick Mukunzi accurately headed the ball straight into the back of the net from a Jean Claude Iranzi corner kick to give APR a quick 3-0 lead.

APR players dance as they celebrate a famous win over their rivals.

A minute later, Iranzi ran past Emmanuel Imanishimwe on the right flank before cutting inside to pass the ball to Maxime Sekamana who was waiting strategically at the penalty spot.

The substitute midfielder, who had earlier replaced injured Djamal Mwiseneza in the eighth minute, dispatched a brilliant strike into the back of the net to send the APR fans into celebrations and the Rayon Sports fans out of the stadium before the end of the game. APR interim head coach Vincent Mashami said, "We earned this win because we played well with patience. We told the players that big games like this need focus.”

APR winger Claude Iranzi tries to get past a Rayon Sports defender. Iranzi was instrumental in the 4-0 win. (All photos by Sam Ngendimana)

Rayon Sports continued to search for a consolation goal but Peter Otema and substitute striker Isaac Muganza’s efforts did not amount to much as the central defensive duo of Emery Bayisenge and Ismael Nshutiyamagara protected goalkeeper Olivier Kwizera.

This win maintains APR’s seven-point lead at the top of the table standings with 38 points, following AS Kigali’s 3-0 win over Mukura at Mumena stadium yesterday.

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