APR lose grip on title race

PNFL, YesterdayIsonga 2-1 APRLa Jeunesse 0-1 MukuraAmagaju 2-0 EtincellesNyanza 2-0 PoliceAPR’s title defence suffered a devastating blow after the champions succumbed to a shocking 1-2 loss in the last minutes of a scintillating battle against ten-man Isonga in the Primus league yesterday at Amahoro National Stadium.Skipper Olivier Karekezi pounced on a mistake from Emery Bayisenge to put APR ahead on 36th minute.Hamidou Ndayisaba came off the bench, replacing injured Justin Mico, and powered a sharp shot past goalie Jean Luc Ndayishimiye, snatching an equaliser on 64th minute.The military side pressed harder for a winner but it was not until Burundian Faty Papy suffered a hamstring that APR’s midfield started depleting.On the other hand, Isonga suffered a set-back as their left back Francois Hakizimana received marching orders from referee Issa Kagabo for a second bookable offence.However, this never demotivated Isonga’s ambition and quest for attacking in search for a winner.Isonga striker Isaac Muganza raced from the midfield dribbling past Hegman Ngoma and shot a 40-metre yard stick on 80th minute past Ndayishimiye, who was only left frustrated on the ground, to snatch the winner for the youthful side which is mainly composed of players who featured in last year’s Fifa U-17 World Cup finals in Mexico.APR increased their pressure to grab an equaliser but efforts from Ernest Kwizera, St. Preux Leonel and Karekezi in the dying minutes were all frustrated by a starring performance from Isonga goalie Olivier Kwizera.APR has now dropped six vital points behind joint leaders Police and Mukura, with a game in hand. They now sit fourth with 24 points.In other games, Police suffered a shock 2-0 defeat away to relegation battling side Nyanza. Goals from veterans Aimable Rucogoza and Theoneste Muhayimana sunk Goran Kopunovic’s side and stopped them from opening gap on closest rival Mukura. Nyanza have now jumped out of the relegation zone – in tenth position with 12 points.Mukura grabbed a slim 1-0 win over La Jeunesse at Nyamirambo stadium to move to 30 points in 13 matches played this season, while Amagaju tamed Etincelles at home in Nyamagabe with a 2-0 deserved victory.

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APR lose grip on title race