APR frustrated by Etoile du Sahel

STALEMATE…Tunisian hold on for goalless draw Orange Champions LeagueYesterdayAPR 0-0 ESSFC Platiniums 2 - 2 El Merreikh8e Arrondissement 0 - 3 Al-HilalRwanda’s league champions APR Fc were left frustrated after being held to a scoreless draw by visiting Etoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia in the first round of this year’s Orange Champions League first leg match played at the Amahoro Stadium on Saturday.In a game in which they created so many chances, the military side could live to regret the missed goal scoring oppurtunities if they failed to get beyond this stage, and this left Ducth coach Ernie Brandts disappointed.As early as the third minute, APR’s skipper Olivier Karekezi sent the first shot on target but ESS’s Tunisian national team goalie Aymen Matmloutmki stood firm.The military side continued to press the visitors and Selemani Ndikumana wasted another good scoring opportunity when he blasted a free-kick into the wall from 18 yards.Faty Papy came close and had his header brushed off target after a swift counter attack initiated by Ugandan international and man of the match Dan Wagaluka.The Cranes midfielder, who was a constant threat to the ESS backline, dribbled from the centre half into the goal area only to chip an aerial ball which Papy headed wide.Five minutes later, Wagaluka headed off target following an excellent cross from his countryman Habib Kavuma. The Tunisians, who seemed only contented with not conceding than going for an away goal for most of the match, got their own scoring opportunity from a counter attack initiated by Cameroonian born Tembo Fwayo, who set up Sassi Mossab, but the striker blasted his shot wide of Jean Claude Ndoli’s post.On the half hour mark, Karekezi had the best chance of the game to score for APR but somehow the Amavubi captain squandered it while inside the box.Kabange Twite struck a wonderful shot which was blocked by ESS defender Kom Franck and the rebound fell nicely into the path of Karekezi, who once again shot wide when fans expected better from their team’s most valuable player.In the second half, the visitors defended in numbers and APR was even hungrier for the goals but lady luck never smiled wasn’t smiling for them. Papy, Kabange and Karekezi were again at it wasting good chances as the game grew older.Coach Brandts tried to spice up the attack bringing in Brazilian duo of Douglas Lopes Carneiro and Diego Oliviera Alves for Kabange and Selemani. The changes did little as the score remained the same, but APR remained livelier without causing Aymen Matmloutmki much trouble. Wasteful Karekezi failed to convert an Alves cross when all by himself and Papy’s effort went inches wide of the goal post as full time approached.The result leaves the tie finely balanced heading into the return let in Tunis on April 7. The military side will need a scoring draw to progress to the second round. APR has a poor record against North African teams.