Africa-Press – Rwanda. APR FC on Thursday lost to visitors Police FC 3-2 in Inkera y’Abahizi tournament held at Kigali Pelé Stadium on Thursday, August 21, putting AS Kigali in pole position to win the tournament after beating Tanzanian outfit Azam FC 1-0 in the earlier fixture.
This marked the second consecutive loss for the army side who also lost to AS Kigali on penalty shootouts on Wednesday.
Forward opened the scoring against his former side in the 37th minute after capitalizing on goalkeeper Pierre Ishimwe’s blunder. He immediately ran to the stands and kissed his daughter in celebration of the goal.
Forward Lague Byiringiro celebrates his goal with his daughter-courtesy
APR FC equalized in the 43rd minute through William Togui, after miscommunication between Police FC defender Dieudone Ndayishimiye and goalkeeper Onesime Rukundo and the pair headed into the halftime break tied to 1-1.
APR FC dominated ball possession until Police FC coach Ben Mousa made three crucial changes by taking off Frodouard Mugiraneza, Alain Kwitonda and Emmanuel Okwi for Leonard Gakwaya, Fred Muhozi and Didier Mugisha respectively.
Police FC could have been reduced to 10 men when captain Eric Nsabimana fouled Hakim Kiwanuka few yards behind the penalty box but referee Aline Umutoni decided to award a yellow card, a decision that left APR FC players disappointed.
But Police FC still conceded the second goal in the 71st minute after Mamadou Sy tapped in Denis Omedi’s pass to finish off APR FC’s quick counter’s attack.
The law enforcing club, however, equalized five minutes later through Muhozi after goalie Ishimwe failed to clear Clement Niyigen’s stop from Byiringiro’s cross.
Didier Mugisha completed the comeback after heading home the free kick for Police FC match winner.
Meanwhile, AS Kigali continued their fine form and defeated Azam FC of Tanzania 1-0, and moved closer to winning the Inkera Abahizi Cup tournament by organising team APR FC look are out of the tournament with just three points from their 2-0 win over Azam in the opening match.
AS Kigali dominated proceedings through players like Tharcisse Nshimiyimana, Prince Rudasingwa, Aime Ntirushwa and Arséne Tuyisenge.
In the 40th minute, AS Kigali stepped up their game, with Osée Iyabivuze, who had swapped positions with Olivier Dushimimana on the left wing, firing a powerful shot but Hamis Yassin saved it.
Just two minutes later, Rudasingwa was brought down by goalkeeper Yassin in the penalty area, and referee Samuel Uwikunda immediately awarded a penalty that was well taken by the former Rayon Sports striker to score what was his second goal in the tournament.
With the win, AS Kigali now lead the table with six points from two consecutive matches. They now need just a draw against Police FC on Sunday, August 24, to lift the trophy.
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