Yesterday’s result

APR 2-2 Rayon Sport

TEN-TIME league champions APR crawled back from two down to level with arch-rivals Rayon Sport in their final first-round game yesterday.

Jerome Sena put the blues ahead with two clinical strikes inside the first 15 minutes. The striker put the Blues ahead on the 6th minute and doubled their lead eight minutes later to send the Rayon crowd into frenzy.

But it was far from over as Bokota Labama, who came on for Cedric Xavier in the second half scored a brace to gift APR a valuable point.

After playing on the back foot for most parts of the first half, APR returned in the second half a much more organized unit.

For APR’s first goal, Kabange Twite split Rayon’s defense with a perfect cross which Bokota pounced on. The striker took a powerful strike which Rayon’s goalie Faisal Kanene couldn’t stop.

The blues had a strong shout for a penalty shortly when Peter Kagabo was brought down in the box by Didier Koin but referee Issa Kagabo was not interested.

A few minutes later, Rayon brought on fresh legs in Ugandan International Joseph Mwangi and Pappy Gasana but still failed to add onto their lead.

With twelve minutes to go, skipper Patrick Mafisango curved in another cross for Bokota to level with a perfect header.

Kanene was kept busy for the remainder of the game with powerful strikes from Emmanuel Sebanani, Haruna Niyonzima, Jean Baptista Mugiraneza and Kabange Twite.

The result means that APR and Etincelles end their first round campaign in joint top spot with 24 points although the army side tops the table on goal difference.

Both Rayon and Atraco have 21 points but the Blues are in third place thanks to a superior goal difference.

Ends