Police FC and APR FC settled for a 1-1 draw in a crunch Rwanda Premier League rescheduled clash at Kigali Pele Stadium on Wednesday, December 4. Vincent Mashami’s Police FC have had an unimpressive run, winning just once in their last four league games while APR FC had shown signs of recovery after a slow start to the season. The game started on a slow pace as both teams gradually warmed themselves into the encounter. The first chance of the game fell to Didier Mugisha in the 8th minute. The forward played a neat one-two with Gabriel Agblevor but shot feebly into the hands of APR goalkeeper Pavelh Ndzila. The first goal of the game came in the 10th minute through Abedi Bigirimana. Peter Agblevor switched to the right and beat Claude Niyomugabo before delivering a superb cross which the unmarked Burundian midfielder fired past Ndzila for the opener. Police FC were in control of the game as the likes of Henry Msanga, Djibrine Akuki, Pacifique Ngabonziza and Abedi Bigirimana dominated the APR from midfield. ALSO READ: Novic says not APR's fault fielding 7 foreign players vs Gorilla APR pulled even in the 23rd minute after Aliou Souane headed home beautifully from a Jean Bosco Ruboneka corner kick to make it 1-1. The goal seemed to have brought life into APR as they bombarded the Police FC defense with a series of attack. Gilbert Mugisha had a shot narrowly missing target in the 31st minute before Lamine Bah had another strike sailing over the bar in the 33rd minute. APR were awarded a penalty in the 44th minute after Bigirimana pushed Lamine Bah in the box only for Mamadou Sy to woefully shoot the ball into the waiting hands of Goalkeeper Onesme Rukundo. The first half ended with the scores at 1-1. Darko Novic brought on Johnson Nwobodo for Mamadou Sy in the 46th minute in order to beef up his attack. The first chance of the second half fell to Olivier Dushimimana in the 57th minute as he latched onto a through ball from Gilbert Byiringiro but he shot wide to the relief of goalkeeper Rukundo. APR brought on Ramadan Niyibizi for Taddeo Lwanga in the 60th minute in an effort to strengthen their midfield. Mashami made double substitution in the 62nd minute, introducing Djibrine Akuki and Fred Muhoozi for Ashraf Mandela and Eric Nsabimana respectively. Novic also made a tactical decision when he brought on Frodouard Mugiraneza for Lamine Bah and Arsene Tuyisenge for Dushimimana in 71st minute. Police FC coach Vincent Mashami also needed fresh legs in attack as he brought on Elijah Ani for Peter Agblevor in the 74th minute. The game was becoming more physical with clumsy challenges from both teams. Abedi Bigirimana escaped a yellow card for a bad challenge on Mugiraneza in the 80th minute but was later booked for shouting at the referee in the 83rd minute. There was more drama in the 87th minute when Elijah Ani set Abedi Bigirimana up for the winner before assistant referee Juliette Akimana raised the flag for offside, a decision that Police FC players rushed to her to protest. After the 90 minutes had elapsed, there was five minutes of time added on as both teams held on to the 1-1 draw. The result saw Police FC and APR FC remain in the 4th and 5th places respectively.
