Rwanda National Police

El Mereikh 4-0 Banadir

Gor Mahia 0-1 Atletico

Police 3-1 Vital’O

Police FC became the first team to qualify for the last eight of the Cecafa Kagame Cup 2014 after defeating defending champions Vital’O of Burundi 3-1 in a Group C match in Kigali on Monday evening.

Star strikers Jerome Sina, Jacques Tuyisenge and Jimmy Mbaraga were the heroes of the day as Police staked their title credentials in the annual regional club competition.

The debutants, who have become a surprise package in the tournament after winning their first two games, dominated the highly contested game in front of capacity crowd at Kigali Regional Stadium.

Jerome Sina opened the scoring in the 34th minute, with Jacques Tuyisenge restoring the cops’ lead in the 45th minute, six minutes after Vital’O’s Hussein Shaban had restored parity.

Jimmy Mbaraga put the icing on the cake for Police with a powerful header in the 71st minute, earning his side the second headed goal – both from set pieces – and the third overall.

That goal ensured all three points for Police FC and progression into the next round.

It was the second win for Andre Cassa Mbungo’s team after they beat El Meriekh of Sudan 1-0 on Saturday.

In yesterday’s game, Sina scored with a thunderous shot from the edge of the box after good effort by Tuyisenge on the right, before the latter turned the scorer when he flicked the ball into the far post from a well taken Mbaraga corner, to restore Police’s lead.

Following the first goal, Gilbert ‘Yaoundé’ Kanyankore’s team successfully looked for an equalizer, with Shaban sending a powerful header beyond goalie Emery Nvuyekure off Jean Ngirukwishaka’s cross.

After falling behind again, Vital’O pressed for a second equalizer this time in vain, only for Cassa Mbungo’s impressive side to take the game beyond their opponents’ reach, with Mbaraga rising highest to power home the winner from a dangerous Mwemere Ngirinshuti free kick.

Police will play their final group against Benadir of Somalia, who are out of the competition after losing their first two opening games, while Vital’O will be up against El Mereikh of Sudan on Thursday.

It their first game on Saturday, Vital’O had eased 5-0 past Benadir.

Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, El Mereikh thumped Banadir 4-0 in the day’s second game, thanks to goals from Kenyan born Allan Wanga, skipper Ahmed Elbasha, Mohamed Traore and Pascal Serge Wawa.

In the day’s first game, Atletico of Burundi beat Gor Mahia of Kenya 1-0, thanks to Alexis Kitenge Hakizimana’s goal. That result means that the Kenyan side are virtually out of the competition, having lost their first game to KCCA of Uganda 2-1 on Friday.

Source: The New Times