Saturday APR 2-0 Rayon Mukura 2-4 Kiyovu Muhanga 0-0 Sunrise Marines 1-0 Musanze

APR have opened up a five-point lead at the Rwanda Premier League summit following their 2-0 win over Rayon Sports despite being reduced to ten men early in the second half on Saturday.

Young striker Lague Byiringiro and former Rayon Sports defender Thierry Manzi were on the target as  APR  fans cheered the loudest at fully-packed Amahoro Stadium. With the victory, APR top the table with 37 points, five clear of second-placed Police. Rayon are third at 31.

Byiringiro opened the scoring with a thunderbolt strike to put the hosts ahead after 18 minutes, while skipper Manzi sealed the victory from a free-kick with two minutes to clock.

Four minutes into the second period, goal-scorer Byiringiro, however, was sent off with a second bookable offence, but it never slowed down APR who continued to dominate the proceedings.

The Blues could have equalised – or even grab the lead – by the hour-mark but forwards Michael Sarpong and Yannick Bizimana were wasteful in front of Umar Rwabigwi’s goal.

In other matches, SC Kiyovu added to Mukura’s woes with a 4-2 win, Marines beat Musanze 1-0, whereas AS Muhanga and Sunrise played out a barren draw.

Mukura were thrashed 5-1 by Rayon Sports last Sunday.