Saturday

Bugesera Vs AS KigaliKirehe FC Vs MarinesSC Kiyovu Vs EtincellesEspoir Vs Mukura

FridayPolice FC 1-2 Sunrise FC

Azam Rwanda Premier League title hopefuls Police FC were on Friday dealt a big blow in their league aspirations after losing 2-1 against visiting Sunrise FC at Kicukiro Stadium.

After a goalless first-half, Alphonse Gatera’s team took a 2-0 lead through forward Vedaste Niyibizi in the 63rd minute and Alexis Ortomal in the 82nd before Rwanda international Christophe ‘Abeddy’ Biramahire scored the consolation goal for the hosts five minutes from time.

The win helped Sunrise FC leapfrog Innocent Seninga’s Police FC in fourth place – both teams are level on 15 points but Gatera’s team are fourth courtesy of a better head-to-head record.

Nyagatare-based Sunrise FC dominated their opponents from the start to finish, creating several scoring chances but only to be denied by Police goalie Marcel Nzarora.

Nigerian forward Ortomal had a chance to give Sunrise the lead in the 30th minute but saw his goal-bound effort cleared off the line by a sliding Fiston Munezero.

"We came here for three points and I am delighted that we are now into the top four. We are going to build on this result and try to win more games going forward,” Gatera said.

The former Rayon Sports and Amavubi defender added: "Police are a strong team and we knew it, but we came up with our strategy to defend as a team and attack as team and it worked very well.”

Police FC’s Seninga said: "We played so poorly today. We gave away possession far too easily, which gave them confidence to attack. We are obviously disappointed and now need to go back to the drawing board and prepare for the next match.”

AS Kigali, who face Bugesera FC in Nyamata on Saturday, lead the league standings with 17 points, level with second-placed SC Kiyovu, while APR FC sit in third position with 16 points.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw