A late strike from defender Clement Niyigena was all that Ben Moussa and his APR FC men needed to take home maximum points after a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Kiyovu on Saturday, January 28, at Muhanga Stadium.
It took just three minutes for Bertrand Iradukunda to open the scoring for Kiyovu Sports who took an early lead in what proved to be highly-competitive encounter.
But the early goal unsettled the defending champions as they started to chase an equalizer.
Once Ben Moussa’s men found their rhythm, they came to the party and pinned Kiyovu to their own half.
The military side’s incessant pressure on Kiyovu yielded dividends in the 21st minute as Yannick Bizimana restored parity for the visitors with a great finish before Ramadhan Niyibizi added the second give his side a 2-1 lead over the Green Baggies who were still struggling to regroup.
APR continued their dominance and created some good chances in the last fifteen minutes of the first half but failed to utilize them as they went to recess leading the scores.
The second half of the game saw Kiyovu return to action looking like a wounded lion chasing its prey.
The home side took control of the game and built their game from the midfield as they looked to force for an equalizer.
Burundian midfielder Ismael Nshimirimana, who marshaled the Kiyovu midfield, netted the equalizer for the Green Baggies with a sublime strike in the 68th minute. It was his second goal this campaign against a big team after scoring against Rayon Sports.
Chances were far and few from there as both teams decided to hold on to the ball and were unable to create spaces.
Kiyovu thought they were going to share the spoils prior to the full time but until Clement Niyigena popped up in a 93rd minute match winner for APR as he connected a free kick inside the penalty box to give his side a 3-2 victory that sent traveling supporters in wild celebrations.
APR earned three important points that saw them move at top of the league table for the first time this season with 34 points, leapfrogging AS Kigali who who had a day to forget as they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at the hands of Rwamagana.
Rayon Sports also slipped in Huye after Mukura held them to a 1-1 draw as Emmanuel Nsabimana scored for the home side to draw level with the Blues who scored early in the 11th minute through Moussa Camara.
Elsewhere, Rutsiro beat Musanze 1-0 Ubworoherane Stadium, a defeat that piled more misery on the Northern Province-based side that lost to Rayon a week ago.
High-flying Gasogi United also annihilated Sunrise FC 3-1 at Nyagatare Stadium. Theodore Malipangou, and Niyongira Dany were both on the scoresheet to help Charles Nkuriza Kakooza’s side move third on the table and two points behind league leaders APR.