APR coach Ernie Brandts concedes that the defending champions were happy to snatch a draw in Sunday’s hotly contested Primus League match with arch-rivals Rayon Sport.

The defending champions seemed to be headed for defeat only for second half substitute Ismail Nshutiyamagara to equalize in the last minute of normal time.

Up until the moment the left back slotted in the equalizer, APR were disjointed and diffident against a compact and committed Blues’ side.

"Rayon Sports were very solid and made it very hard for us throughout the 90 minutes,” the Dutchman conceded.

APR midfielder Jean Baptista Mugiraneza a.k.a Migi opened the scoring with well directed header in the 16th minute. On the stroke of half time, Faudi Ndayisenga equalised from the spot kick following a reckless challenge on Cedric Amissi by Kabange Twite.

After the half-time break, Rayon continued to dominate proceedings and finally got their reward when Amissi’s volley on the 69th minute beat a flat-footed Jean Claude Ndoli.

APR responded with back to back shots on goal but couldnot beat Rayon’s goal keeper Juma Mpongo until the 90th minute when Nshutiyamagara pounced on a Kerekezi rebound to score.

Brandts’ opposite number Jean Marie Ntagwabira meanwhile insists that Rayon deserved more than a draw.

"We controlled the match and were unlucky not to win but we have to lift ourselves and focus on the next match,” he said.

The draw kept APR at the top of the league table with 13 points thanks to their superior goal difference over Etincelles. Police, who had to dig deep to secure a 1-0 victory over Nyanza are in third place with 11 points while Rayon follow in fourth position with 10 points.

Espoir and AS Kigali are struggling in the relegation zone after managing a sole point from five matches.

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