Controversial penalty saves Rayon blushes

TodayAS Muhanga vs Esperance - 3:30pmAS Kigali vs EtincellesEspoir vs Gicumbi YesterdayMarines 2-3 Rayon SportsSC Kiyovu 0-2 APRAmagaju 3-1 PoliceMusanze 0-3 Mukura HEART BREAK it was for Marines fans as Rayon Sports scored a last minute controversial penalty to come away with a 3-2 win to keep the blues in charge of the Turbo King National Football League table. Rayon were 2-0 up in the first half through Cedric Amissi and Arafat Serugendo strikes, but Marines recovered strongly and netted twice in the first 15 minutes of the second half through Ismail Gikamba and Haruna Muvunyi. The defending champions, who were without head Coach Luc Eymael, pressed forward for the winner but the home team held to their nerves with good defending until the final minute when referee Moise Kwizera awarded the blues a controversial penalty. Skipper Fuadi Ndayisenga made no mistake to convert the penalty to give Rayon all three points, but left Marines feeling cheated. The blues remain in charge of the league standings with 55 points, level with APR, who beat SC Kiyovu 2-0 at Kigali regional stadium. However, the former have a superior goal difference (29) over the army side’s 26. Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza found the net against his former team in the 16th minute from Michel Ndahinduka’s cross from the left wing. Ndahinduka doubled the lead on 38th minute, converting a well taken free kick by Andrew Buteera. Kiyovu goalie Andre Mpazimaka denied the military sides several chances as he made saves from Emery Bayisenge, Ndahinduka and Buteera. Elsewhere, Sam Ssimbwa’s Police FC were left cursing in Nyamagabe as they went down to relegation battling Amagaju FC 3-1. Adolphe Nkundukize netted a brace and Paty Ndizeye scored the other. Jerome Sina scored the consolation goal for the Cops. Despite the shock defeat, Police remain in third position with 41 points, while Godfroid Okoko’s Amagaju jumped to 12th position with 17 points. Meanwhile, Mukura registered their first win under head coach Alphonse Gatera since he replaced Burundian Cedric Kaze, who resigned last month. Burundian import Claude Nahimana scored a double, while Rodriguez Mazuru scored the other goal as the Huye-based side routed Musanze 3-0 in Musanze. Mukura jumped to eighth position with 22 points, while Musanze remained sixth with 36 points with three round of matches remaining.