Ndoli sends APR into final

Semi-finalEl Merreikh 1-1 APR [1-3 pen]AL FASHER. Three-time winners APR are in the final of the 2013 Cecafa Kagame Club Championship after knocking out hosts, El Merreikh in a penalty shoot-out on Friday.Amavubi Stars and APR experienced goalie Jean-Claude Ndoli, who was named the Man of the Match, played a decisive role during El Merreikh’s most dominant spells.Neither normal time nor extra-time were enough to decide the winner, who had to be decided in a dramatic penalty shoot-out [3-1] following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes.Ndoli saved three El Merreikh penalties as Emery Bayisenge, Ismail Nshutiyamagara and Andrew Buteera converted the winning penalties for the army side.Adam Williams, Adan Abdelrahman and Mohamed Elnour were all kept at bay by Ndoli, only substitute Salah Abdelrahman managed to convert his penalty perfectly.Despite playing ten-men after David Nwosou’s sending off in the 4th minute, the home team dominated the first 45 minutes and caused APR all sorts of problems. The likes of Bayisenge, Ismail Nshutiyamagara and Michel Rusheshangonga had to dig deep to keep APR in the game. APR was disadvantaged in the buildup to the match when midfielders Jean Claude Iranzi and Tumaine Ntamuhanga were ruled out with injuries.Isae Isonga had the best chance after 34 minutes but his shot went wide as both sides showed signs of fatigue.The hosts also stifled much of the usual creativity from APR midfielders Jean Baptiste Mugiraneza, Eric Nsabimana, Andrew Buteera and Yannick Mukunzi and the first half chances were limited to just Joseph Kabagambe firing wide after 15 minutes and Adam Williams shooting wide after 37 minutes.However, a minute in the second half, Ugandan Kabagambe picked the ball near the box, dodged past Nshutiyamagara before planting a fierce shot past Ndoli.Isonga then made amends when he put to good use Eric Nsabimana’s cross in the 54th minute to stretch goalkeeper Abdelazzizz in the far corner.Coach Andreas Spier reinforced his side with Nova Bayama replacing Hegman Ngoma, Maxime Sekamana coming in for Yannick Mukunzi and Barnabe Mubumbyi for Isonga.Nsabimana was sent off in the 100th minute but still there was no difference as both sides settled for a 1-1 draw to force the much dreaded penalties.APR, who are bidding to win their first silverware this season, will face the winner between Rayon Sports and Vital’O in Monday’s final.