Rayon Sports revel in 'best' win against APR

Tuesday Bugesera FC 1-0 Rwamagana City FCAmagaju Fc 1-0 Musanze FcAPR FC 0-4 Rayon Sports Espoir FC 1-1 Marines FcSC Kiyovu 0-1 AS KigaliMukura VS 3-0 Gicumbi FcAS Muhanga 3-1 Etincelles Rayon Sports produced probably their best performance in years, and by far the best in the league this season, in a resounding 4-0 drabbing of archrivals APR FC on Tuesday evening at a fully packed Amahoro National Stadium. The reigning champions and league leaders were put on the sword by the blues’ magnificent forwards, including Ugandan striker Davis Kasirye, who netted a brilliant treble and Malian international Ismaila Diarra, who grabbed the other as Rayon moved to within a point of the military side. It’s a performance and result that will surely shore up Rayon Sports’ belief they can wrestle the title from their greatest rivals. “This is the best win we have had against APR in a long time, but more so, it is the best football we have played this season, we are all happy with this win. “I’m particularly happy with the discipline of my players, with their work ethic throughout the match,” Rayon Sports’ interim head coach Djuma Masudi said in a post-match news conference. The former Burundi international and Rayon Sports captain added that, “This is an important win, we needed the three points, but this is not the end of the road because we have other matches which we have to win, we have to try and replicate such performances even against other teams. The victory kept Rayon, who are seeking to win the league for the first time since 2013, in second place with 45 points, a point behind APR and with a game in hand – against Etincelles FC. Rayon Sports last beat APR by a similar margin, 4-0, on March 12, 2013, at the same venue. A humbled APR FC’s Tunisian head coach Nizar Khanfir said: “It is sad for us, Rayon Sports played better than us, they dominated the game and are deserved winners”. “However, we have to move on, we are looking ahead already, we have more matches to play.” Throughout the match, the stadium was in a lively atmosphere with jubilating Rayon Sports fans cheering their team on. Elsewhere, Mukura VS edged Gicumbi FC 3-0 to remain fourth with 38 points. AS Muhanga thrashed Etincelles 3-1 to climb into 15th place with 11 points, three above bottom side Rwamagana City, who lost 1-0 to Eastern Province rivals Bugesera FC. Eric Nshimiyimana’s AS Kigali beat SC Kiyovu 1-0, thanks to Rodriguez Murengezi’s first half strike, to remain in fifth with 37 points, while the Green Baggies stay in third with 38 points. Espoir and Marines shared the spoils in a 1-draw in Rusizi. editorial@newtimes.co.rw