Rayon Sports thump Mukura to go second

Friday Mukura 0-3 Rayon Espoir 0-0 Police Muhanga 5-2 Amagaju Etincelles 3-2 Bugesera Thursday Gicumbi 1-0 Sunrise APR 2-0 Musanze RAYON Sports were in no mood to sit back on Friday as they ran riot to blow away Mukura 3-0 at Huye Stadium, and go second in the Azam Rwanda Premier League. Free-scoring Burundian prodigy Jules Ulimwengu netted his 11th goal this season, and second for Rayon Sports since crossing from Sunrise last month, to complete the 3-0 remarkable victory. The game started evenly in the opening ten minutes with both sides showing strong intent for the three points, but Mukura went down after 14 minutes with a goal from Rayon Sports midfielder Olivier Niyonzima, which they could not recover from – but rather things kept getting worse. While the hosts pushed to level, with a few squandered goal opportunities, Ghana-born striker Micheal Sarpong – who was voted as the club’s Player of the Month for January – doubled the lead for the visitors in the 28th minute to hand Roberto Oliveira’s side a 2-0 advantage at half-time. Twenty minutes from the break, Ulimwengu, 19, scored with a powerful strike to add salt to injury for Francis Haringingo’s side who had only lost one league game – to Police – this season. This was Rayon Sports’ first victory over the black-and-yellow outfit in their last five meetings, with Makura having won two and held the Blues twice. With the win, eight-time champions Rayon leapfrogged Mukura into the second position courtesy of a superior goal difference (17) compared to Mukura’s nine. Both sides are tied on 37 points, from 17 games, apiece. Reigning champions APR, who beat Musanze 2-0 on Thursday, lead the table with 41 points, while SC Kiyovu complete top four with 29 points. Strugglers Amagaju are located at the bottom of the 16-team table with 8 points. editorial@newtimesrwanda.com