Rayon trounced Bugesera, closing the gap at the top. 2-0 at Nyamata on Sunday, April 16, with goals from Willy Leandre Onana and Musa Essenu in each half.
Rayon’s attack looked deadly from the start of the game as their front three of Willy Onana, Musa Esenu and Joackim Ojera tormented Bugesera’s back four and never gave them the chance to settle.
The visitors’ early pressure paid off in the 32nd minute when Onana gave them the lead with a magnificent goal after Heritier Luvumbu made a beautiful ball with the outside of his boot.
The accomplishment of the goal appeared to have roused Bugesera, as they quickly gained control of the match. However, their attack, led by Farouk Ruhinda, found that opponents like Abdul Rwatubyaye and Elie Ganijuru were tough opponents to beat.
Eric Nshimiyimana’s men had a couple of chances to restore parity but they blew them all away.
Rayon were back in the driving seat in the final five minutes of the game as they had a series of set-pieces in dangerous positions which were wasted by Heritier Luvumbu.
The first half ended 1-0 in favor of Rayon who had been the better of the two teams.
The second half saw Rayon coach Francis Haringingo trying to solidify the midfield as he brought on Hadji Iraguha for attacker Joackim Ojera.
Bugesera, on the other hand, were very poor in the final end of the field as they dearly missed their top marksman Sadick Sulley who watched the match from the stands serving a one-match suspension after he saw red against APR.
Rayon decided to hold the ball in midfield with Luvumbu and Iraguha in an attempt to get Bugesera who had packed in their own half to open the game.
Ugandan forward Musa Esenu made it 2-0 for the Blues in the 63rd minute with a superb goal as they seemed to wrap up the game to the delight of travelling fans.
After that, chances were slim to none as both teams played cautiously. Heritier Luvumbu and Musa Esenu were replaced by Felix Ndekwe and Tuyisenge Arsene, respectively, in the 81st and 89th minutes as Rayon clung to a 2-0 victory.
With 49 points, Rayon has climbed to third place on the standings, four points behind APR and Kiyovu, who are tied for first place with 53 points each.
Other Games
Marines FC lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Mukura Victory at Huye Stadium. Substitute Arthur Gitego scored the winner in the 84th minute.
Elsewhere in Rusizi, a strike from Sharif Yusuf Saaka on the stroke of half time ensured that bottom-placed Espoir FC recorded a 1-0 victory over Sunrise FC.
At Muhanga Stadium, Muhadjiri Hakizimana set up Didier Mugisha for the only goal of the game in the 3rd minute as Police FC beat Rutsiro 1-0.
