A second half goal from Nigerian defender Franklin Onyeabor proved decisive as AS Kigali beat Police FC 1-0 at Kigali Pele Stadium on Sunday, November 10. Vincent Mashami and his Police FC charges started the week leading the table with 15 points but they have now dropped to fourth place after losing two crucial matches against Mukura (0-2) in Huye on Thursday, November 7, before AS Kigali punished them in a narrow 1-0 three days later. There was end-to-end action as both teams showed their supremacy in a nerve-wrecking encounter. The first chance of the game fell to AS Kigali's Aime Ntirushwa in the 15th minute. The forward retrieved a ball from Mandela Ashraf before hitting an unexpected powerful drive which missed the post by inches. ALSO READ: What does the future holds for AS AS Kigali? Police FC afterwards, took control by launching series of attacks. Elijah Ani had a shot missing the target in the 25th minute before, two minutes later, setting up Simeon Iradukunda who had the net at his mercy but blew his effort over the cross bar. Ani again missed another glorious chance in the 30th minute, leaving Mashami frustrated from the touchline. AS Kigali turned the pitch the other round and initiated a quick counter attack which saw Shabani Hussein cutting in from the right before firing a carpet shot which did not have enough power to trouble goalkeeper Onesime Rukundo in the 41st minute. Each team has clear goal scoring opportunities to open the scores before half time but neither side managed to capitalize on them. The second half saw both teams pushing for the opener as the they played with high intensity. Centre back Franklin Onyeabor netted what proved to be the match winner for AS Kigali in the 66th minute. Ntirushwa converted a pinpoint free kick from the left and Onyeabor, who was unmarked inside the penalty box, bundled it home to make it 1-0 for the Citizens. Police FC brought on Peter Agblevor for Elijah Ani in a push for an equalizer as time was running out but AS Kigali’s back four, marshaled around Onyeabor and Jean Bosco Akayezu, defended gallantly as they held Agblevor and fellow substitute Fred Muhoozi at bay. The Citizens played tactically in the final 10 minutes of the encounter as they pushed more men at the back to defend their 1-0 lead until referee blew the final whistle. The win saw AS Kigali jump to third place with 17 points, three points shy of league leaders Rayon Sports who have played a game less.
