Police FC face APR after Cup quarter-final triumph

Sunday Quarter-final APR 1-1 Gicumbi (pens 5-4)Isonga 1-1 Espoir (pens 5-4)Police 1-1 SC Kiyovu (pens 4-3)Rayon Sports 2-0 Etincelles Police FC will meet defending champions APR in the semi-finals of this year’s Peace Cup after both sides overcame their quarter-final opponents through penalty shoot-outs on Sunday. Andre Cassa Mbungo’s Police eliminated SC Kiyovu 4-3 in post match penalty kicks after both sides had played out a 1-1 draw in normal time at FERWAFA grounds, while APR beat Gicumbi FC 5-4 on penalty shoot-outs after the 90 minutes had ended in a 1-1 draw at Mumena stadium. Police took the lead in the fourth minutes with brilliant finish through their talisman and skipper Jacques Tuyisenge before Hussein Habimana equalized for Hamisi Bagumaho’s SC Kiyovu ten minute before the break. Kiyovu dominated the proceedings for larger part of the game in normal time but couldn’t find a way through Police’s tight defence, and later paid the price for failure to use their superior ball possession count. In the penalty shoot-outs, Djuma Radju Niyonkuru, Hussein Sibomana, Gad Niyonshuti and Janvier Mwenedata converted their spot kicks while Abdul Kalim Gashugi, Baby Mbakiye and Yusuf Rure Habimana missed theirs. On the Police side, goalkeeper Emery Mvuyekure didn’t make a single save but was the hero as he scored the winning penalty to send his team into the last four. Tumaine Ntamuhanga, Innocent Twagizimana and Innocent Habyarimana also converted their kicks but Idisbard Nshuti, Tuyisenge and Hertier Turatsinze missed. After the game, Police FC’s head coach Mbungo said, “I am happy with the win but we have to prepare for the semi-finals. Today we have not played as well as I would have liked but we are going to use this week so that we can be ready for APR.” His counterpart, Bagumaho, said his side played well but did not have enough luck in font of goal. “We were the better team but with penalties, anyone can win, so it wasn’t meant to be our day.” At Kicukiro stadium, Rayon Sports beat relegated Etincelles FC 2-0 thanks to skipper Fuadi Ndayisenga, who scored both goals in the second half including a late penalty to set up a semi-final encounter with another relegated side, Isonga FC, who eliminated Espoir 5-4 on penalties after 1-1 draw at Muhanga stadium. The semi-final first leg matches will be played on Saturday and the return leg four days later. The final will be played on Liberation Day on July 4. editorial@newtimes.co.rw