[PHOTOS]: APR FC beat Gicumbi FC to extend lead

Tuesday Musanze FC 1-1 MarinesRwamagana City 1-0 Sunrise FCAPR FC 3-0 Gicumbi FC Wednesday (3:30pm) Bugesera FC vs Rayon SportsAmagaju FC vs AS KigaliEspoir FC vs EtincellesPolice FC vs AS MuhangaSC Kiyovu vs Mukura VS Defending champions APR FC defeated Gicumbi FC 3-0 to open up a four-point lead at the top of Azam Rwanda Premier League table yesterday, with their closest rivals Rayon Sports taking on Bugesera today. Defender Helve Rugwiro wheels away to celebrate his goal as APR beat Gicumbi 3-0 yesterday. APR struck three times in 19 minutes at the Kigali Regional Stadium to take their points tally to 52. Forward Issa Bigirimana came off the bench to net the opener on the 61st minute, having replaced Bernabe Mubumbyi after the break. Jean Claude Iranzi (L) and Helve Rugwiro celebrate APR FC’s second goal against Gicumbi FC. Mubumbyi scored from a Fiston Nkezingabo cross who had come on for Janvier Benedata. Defender Helve Rugwiro scored the second goal on the 70th minute – his second in two games – after a well-taken corner from Jean Claude Iranzi. Iranzi then got one for himself on the 77th minute to complete the rout. Second-half substitute Fiston Nkezingabo dribbles past a Gicumbi defender during the game at Kigali Regional Stadium. The game had started slowly with no side creating clear goal scoring opportunity but the military side made the most of their superior possession and attacking prowess to find the breakthrough in the second half. The defeat saw Gicumbi remain in the seventh position with 30 points. Elsewhere, Musanze FC and visitors Marines played to a 1-all draw, with Basil Hatungima netting for the hosts on the 44th minute before Haruna Muvunyi scored the equalizer for Marines from the spot. Nizar Khanfir, APR head coach gives instructions to second-half substitute Fiston Nkezingabo during the game yesterday. Later on, Marines missed the opportunity to win the game when midfielder Hussein Habimana missed a penalty.Elsewhere, Rwamagana beat Sunrise 1-0 to boost their survival chances. Up against stubborn Bugesera FC today, Rayon Sports, who now have two games in hand, will hope to have closed the gap on APR by the end of the day. APR scored four times to open a four-point cushion at the top of the table with their closest rivals Rayon Sports taking on Bugesera later today. (Photos by Sam Ngendahimana) In today’s other fixtures, Amagaju FC host AS Kigali in Nyamagabe; Etincelles FC entertain Espoir FC in Rusizi; Police FC play against bottom-placed side AS Muhanga at Kicukiro Stadium; while SC Kiyovu take on Mukura VS at Mumena turf. Yves Rwasamanzi’s Kiyovu go into today’s fixture without their midfield duo of Martin Twizeyimana and Jean d’Amour Uwimana through suspension, while their opponents Mukura VS will be without Regis Shyaka, who is also suspended. editorial@newtimes.co.rw