Rayon Sports’ Kevin Muhire goes past Gor Mahia striker George Odhiambo during the Cecafa Kagame Cup Group B match staged on Sundat in Dar es Salaam.
Rwandan side Rayon Sports FC staged a dramatic second-half comeback to snatch a 2-all draw against Kenyan side Gor Mahia in the 2018 CECAFA Kagame Cup Group B match played at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.
The Blues were run ragged for an hour by the K’Ogalo and conceded twice in quick succession to Jacques Tuyisenge and Mieno Humprey after poor defensive blunders.
The game was a repeat of the Caf Confederation Cup clash played between the two sides barely two months ago in Kigali.
In the 34th minute, Rwandan import Tuyisenge put K’Ogalo ahead after tapping into the net a pass from Ivorian Ephrem Guikan.
Five minutes later, the Ivorian provided another set-piece to Mieno to score the second goal following a poor goalkeeping blunder from goalie Ndayisenga Kassim.
In the second half, the Blues returned back, pressing Gor Mahia in search for a goal and their efforts paid off in the 62nd minute when Diarra Ismailla equalized from the spot punishing Charles Momanyi’s handball in the goal area.
With two minutes to the end of the game, Rayon Sports Fc snatched an equalizer courtesy of a brilliant stunning shot from skipper Kwizera Pierre who curved it past Gor Mahia’s goalie Oluoch Boniface to leave both sides with a point from this crucial game.
The draw puts Rayon Sports and Gor Mahia in second and third place at one point in Group B with AS Ports of Djibouti leading the group with three points.
The Brazilian Rayon Sport Coach Roberto Oliveira Goncalves do Carmo said, “I have been with Rayon Sports FC for eight days now and I must thank the resilience from the players. We started poorly in the first half but the reaction in the second half was much better,”
“One game is gone, focus will now be on the remaining two matches with our main aim being qualification to the next round,” added Oliveira.
Rayon Sports will next face AS Ports of Djibouti on Tuesday while Gor Mahia will host Lydia Ludic of Burundi, with both games set to be held at Chamazi Sports Complex.
Action continues on Monday with Group C double headers. Group leaders Singida United of Tanzania will host Dakadaha of Somalia at Chamazi Sports Complex at 1pm while SC Simba will clash with Rwandan league champions APR Fc at 3pm at the National Stadium.
APR Fc who lost their opening game to Singida United 1-2 will be hoping to pick a victory over Simba if they are to be assured of a place in the next round.
Simba coached by Burundian import Masudi Djuma thrashed Dakadaha 4-0 in their opening game and they know that a victory on Monday would send them to the next round.
CECAFA Kagame Cup 2018
Monday fixtures
Group C
Singida United vs Dakadaha (Chamazi Sports Complex, 2pm)
SC Simba vs APR FC (National Stadium, 3pm)
