Mugiraneza inspires APR past Mozambique's Desportiva

Orange Caf Champions LeagueAPR 2-1 Liga Desportiva de Maputo Jean-Baptiste Mugiraneza netted a superb volley in the 82nd minute to guide APR to a 2-1 victory over Mozambican champions Liga Desportiva de Maputo yesterday in the preliminary round of the Caf Champions League at the Amahoro Stadium. The defensive midfielder was left unmarked in the penalty box and volleyed the ball into an open net punishing Desportiva’s goalkeeper Vando da Costa Justino who had come off his line. Substitute Bernabe Mubumbyi had earlier equalised for the home side in the 74th minute cancelling out Ismail Hadji Arnaldo Mustafa’s 48th minute strike to set up a clash against Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the first round of the continental competition. The first leg was a goalless draw in Maputo. Mashami hailed his side’s persistence in the final 15 minutes, replicating last weekend’s late brilliant performance that saw them score four goals in 11 minutes, in the 75th, 79th, 85th and 86th minutes against archrivals Rayon Sports in the National Football League. “We conceded first and honestly that was their target because an away goal is all they needed. We would have chosen to accept defeat but we decided to mount a comeback and when we got the equaliser, we knew we would get the winner. The boys showed character and that is what we wanted, to qualify to the next round,” said the contented Mashami. APR will face Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the next round and will play the first leg in Kigali on the weekend of March 13-15 and the return leg on the weekend of April 3-5 in Egypt.