Willy Leandre Onana and Musa Essenu scored in either half to help Rayon Sport beat Bugesera FC 2-0 in Nyamata on Sunday, April 16, to keep their title hopes alive.
Rayon’s attack looked deadly from the start of the game as their front three of Willy Onana, Musa Esenu and Joackim Ojera tormented Bugesera’s back four and never gave them the chance to settle.
The early pressure imposed by the visitors yielded dividends in the 32nd minute when Onana fired them ahead with a fabulous strike following an exquisite pass from Heritier Luvumbu with an outside of his boot.
The goal seemed to have awakened Bugesera as they took control of the game but their attack made up of Farouk Ruhinda found the likes of Abdul Rwatubyaye and Elie Ganijuru as tough customers as they couldn't bypass them.
Eric Nshimiyimana's men had a couple of chances to restore parity but they blew them all away.
Rayon were back in the driving seat in the final five minutes of the game as they had a series of set-pieces in dangerous positions which were wasted by Heritier Luvumbu.
The first half ended 1-0 in favor of Rayon who had been the better of the two teams.
The second half saw Rayon coach Francis Haringingo trying to solidify the midfield as he brought on Hadji Iraguha for attacker Joackim Ojera.
Bugesera, on the other hand, were very poor in the final end of the field as they dearly missed their top marksman Sadick Sulley who watched the match from the stands serving a one-match suspension after he saw red against APR.
Rayon decided to hold the ball in midfield with Luvumbu and Iraguha in an attempt to get Bugesera who had packed in their own half to open the game.
Ugandan forward Musa Esenu made it 2-0 for the Blues in the 63rd minute with a superb goal as they seemed to wrap up the game to the delight of travelling fans.
Chances were far and few afterwards as both teams played cautiously. Rayon brought on Felix Ndekwe and Tuyisenge Arsene in the 81st and 89th minute respectively for Heritier Luvumbu and Musa Esenu as they held on to the 2-0 win.
Rayon have now moved to third on the table with 49 points and are now four points behind APR and Kiyovu who are tied with 53 points in first and second place respectively.
Other Games
Marines FC lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Mukura Victory at Huye Stadium. Substitute Arthur Gitego scored the winner in the 84th minute.
Elsewhere in Rusizi, a strike from Sharif Yusuf Saaka on the stroke of half time ensured that bottom-placed Espoir FC recorded a 1-0 victory over Sunrise FC.
At Muhanga Stadium, Muhadjiri Hakizimana set up Didier Mugisha for the only goal of the game in the 3rd minute as Police FC beat Rutsiro 1-0.