Last year’s finalists Police edged closer to the last four of the MTN Peace Cup competition after thrashing Marines 5-1 in the quarter final first leg match played yesterday at Umuganda stadium.

TAKE THAT: Fuadi Ndayisenga shoots to score the lone goal in the 65th minute yesterday, which gave Rayon the first leg advantage. The New Times/T. Kisambira.

Meddie Kagere bagged a hat trick with Brazilian striker Erivaldo and Jacques Tuyisenge getting one a piece to put the law enforcers ahead going into the second leg tie to be played on Sunday.

It was sweet revenge for Police, who Marines denied the chance to win their maiden Primus League title earlier this year. Marines got the consolation goal from Amiri Bitenderi.

At Amahoro stadium, Rayon Sports put one foot in the last four with a narrow 1-0 win over archrivals SC Kiyovu. Burundian international Fuadi Ndayisenga scored the lone goal in the 65th minute to give Jean Marie Ntagwabira’s side a first leg advantage.

Kiyovu had goalkeeper Batte Shamiro, who was man of the match, to thank for making a couple of dazzling saves to deny the Blues from winning with a comfortable margin, while Ugandan striker Julius Bakkabulindi hit the Rayon Sports’ cross bar three times in the second half.

Coach Jean Baptiste Kayiranga called on Simon Okwi from the bench in search for an equaliser but it wasn’t to come as the Ugandan striker, who, despite tormenting Rayon defenders with his pace, couldn’t get one past goalie Willy Kabuya, who did so well to deny him on two occasions.

Bokota Labama, Jerome Sina and Cedric Amissi all missed the target as Rayon players put aside their recent troubles to dominate the second period.

Ndayisenge got the winner when his shot from the edge of the box rested to the top right corner of the net, leaving Shamiro mystified.

Earlier in the afternoon, defending champions APR beat second division side SEC academy 3-1. Burundian midfielder Papy Faty scored a brace with Haiti-born St. Lionnel Preux adding the third to put the military side in pole position to reach the last four. Issac Isonga scored for SEC academy

On Wednesday, AS Kigali held Mukura at Kamena.

The second leg of the quarter final stage will be played on Saturday and Sunday while the semi finals are due on June 27/28 (first leg) and June 30 and July 1 (second leg).

The final and third place playoff will be played on July 4. The winner will represent Rwanda in next year’s CAF Orange Confederation Cup.

Quarter-finals, 1st leg

Yesterday
Marines 1-5 Police
APR 3-1 SEC
Kiyovu 0-1 Rayon

Wednesday
Mukura 0-0 AS Kigali

By Bonnie Mugabe, The New Times