Football: Caf Confederation Cup – preliminary round second leg |21 February 2018

Anse Réunion lose 1-2, bow out on aggregate score

Anse Réunion thought they could reverse the score against APR of Rwanda after taking a 1-0 half-time lead but they could not hold on to this slight advantage as they conceded two second half goals to lose 1-2.

The 1-2 loss yesterday at Stad Linite meant Anse Reunion were bundled out of the Caf Confederation Cup on a 1-6 aggregate score after also losing the away fixture 0-4.

Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Mitcy Larue and Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) chairman Elvis Chetty were among the guests at yesterday’s game and most of the fans knew Anse Reunion had a big mountain to climb after going down 0-4 in Kigali.

APR (Armée Patriotique Rwandaise) were the first to go into attack as Issa Bigirimana sent his shot over the crossbar in the 2nd minute and Prince Buregeya’s 8th minute header was saved by Anse Reunion’s veteran goalkeeper Ricky Rose.

Anse Reunion’s Mohamed Kanakulya’s 12th minute pass inside the penalty area was cleared by APR goalkeeper Emery Mvuyekure and Dieter Constance’s 23rd minute corner was cleared by APR defender.

La Digue-based Anse Reunion took the lead in the 35th minute through a headed goal by Yelvanny Rose following a Rashid Gumbo free kick.

Anse Reunion held on to their lead until the breather but once play resumed, APR needed only two minutes to level the score through Herve Rugwiro’s header inside the six-yard box following a free kick by Muhadjiri Hakizimana.

Fourteen minutes later (61st minute), Issa Bigirimana, who was on target in the first leg match, netted his team’s second goal with a nice volley for a 2-1 lead which they held on to until the final whistle.

Midfielder Djihadi Bizimana, who netted a hat-trick in the first leg match with goals in the 12th, 70th and 90th minutes, could not hit the target yesterday after coming on as a substitute for Maxime Sekamana midway through the second period.

Kenyan referee Anthony Ogwayo dished out two yellow cards to Kanakulya Mohamed of Anse Reunion and Emmanuel Imanishimwe of APR.

What they said after the match:

APR coach Jimmy Mulisa: “I am satisfied with the team as possession-wise we were much better than Anse Reunion and we controlled the game. They caught us on a set piece and scored, but I like the way we came back to score the two goals. Following the 4-0 victory in the first leg, we just wanted to come here and give our best. A draw would have been good but scoring two goals away we are satisfied”.

Anse Reunion coach Ted Esther: “We played a better game than in our first leg encounter and we could have won today’s (yesterday) match. We conceded some silly goals against our opponents who are very good on the ball. Despite the defeat, I think my players should be proud of their performance against such a good team. As a young coach I have gained a lot of experience from these two matches and I hope it has been the same for the players”.