Reality check hits APR

•As Mukura dump champs out of MTN Peace Cup MTN Peace Cup Yesterday Semi-final (return leg)Mukura 1-1 APRMukura qualifies on away goal rule August 2 (Final)Atraco v Mukura MUKURA set up a final showdown with Atraco after dumping APR out of this year’s MTN Peace Cup. The Huye based club held the reigning champions to a 1-1 draw yesterday to storm the finals on away goals rule. After scoring two crucial away goals in the semi-final first leg which ended in a 2 all draw, yesterday’s 1-1 was enough to take the three-time champions (1992, 1990 and 1986) into the final. Yesterday, Kabange Twite put the army-side ahead with a clean header after two minutes but Daddy Birori equalised for the hosts with a good volley on the 57th minute. The striker’s equaliser came after a mix up between APR’s center backs Mbuyu Twite and Jean Bosco Uwacu. The pair failed to clear a loose ball and Birori feasted on the opportunity. The defending champions could however have killed off the game in the first half but Bokota Labama, Jean Mugiraneza ‘Migi’, Jabir Mutarambirwa and Kabange failed to hit the target. Erik Paske’s second half substitutions; Eric Serugaba for Bokota and Hegman Ngoma for Mutarambirwa yielded little as Mukura managed to hold onto a deserved draw. John Kalinda nearly doubled Mukura’s lead deep into stoppage time but APR’s left back Elias Ntaganda cleared off the line. Moments later, APR’s midfielder Haruna Niyonzima was denied by the woodwork. It could now be double misery for APR who return to Huye this Thursday for their final league fixture.The military side is two points adrift of reigning champions and league leaders Atraco (50 points). Atraco reached the MTN Peace Cup final for a second straight year after Sunday’s comprehensive 3-0 semi-final return leg win over Rayon Sport at Amahoro national stadium. The victory earned the taxi-men side a comfy 5-1 aggregate win in the two-legged semifinal. After missing a host of chances, Andre Lomami put the Cecafa Club champions ahead on the 60th minute after a well directed header from a set piece. Uganda Cranes international Johnson Bagoole then shattered Rayon’s hopes of a comeback with a thunderous strike on the 78th minute. The Blues’ goal keeper Lawrence Webo could only watch the ball race into his net. Five minutes from time, the midfielder scored his second and Atraco’s third after another fierce strike to send the Atraco bench into frenzy and Rayon fans trooping out of the stadium. This year’s winner will pocket Rwf10m while the second, third and fourth teams will bag Rwf 7m, Rwf4m and Rwf2.5m courtesy of tournament sponsors MTN Rwanda. Ends

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Reality check hits APR