Wednesday

Sunrise 3-2 APR

Nigerian forward Samson Babua scored in either half as Sunrise pulled off a stunning 3-2 victory over APR in a fiery encounter on Wednesday.

Sunrise made hard work of their afternoon at Nyagatare grounds as they became only the second team to upset APR this season, after Mukura earlier this month.

Babua opened the scoring after four minutes to put the hosts ahead, and it was not until the 38th minute that APR came back into contention through Muhadjiri Hakizimana’s strike. The first-half ended with both sides tied at 1-1.

Five minutes from the break, former Rayon Sports defender Leo Uwambajimana scored with a powerful header to hand Sunrise a second lead, which was cancelled by Dominique Savio Nshuti in the 68th minute after a defensive howler in the box by Jean d’Amour Nzayisenga.

The visitors continued to press, and dominated the possession in late stages of the game, but it was Sunrise who had the last laugh thanks to Babua’s 89th minute winner that sent the home fans into wild jubilation after some good work from Gadi Niyonshuti who curled a cross into APR’s penalty area from the left flank.

Man of the match Babua and Sunrise skipper Ally Musa Sova caused APR’s back four all sorts of troubles and could have scored more goals for Justin Bisengimana’s side but goalie Yves Kimenyi thwarted a number of their clear-cut chances.

Midfielder Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza who had played 90 minutes of every APR league game this season, was carried off the pitch in the 72nd minute with – seemingly – a serious injury, and was replaced by Mirafa Nizeyimana.

Despite the defeat, APR remain top of the table standings with 35 points following 11 victories, two loses and two draws, while Sunrise moved to within one point of fourth-placed SC Kiyovu.

The Nyagatare District-sponsored side are fifth with 25 points, having recorded 7 wins, four draws and four losses, respectively, in their first fifteen games.

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