Defending Champions Kick Off With a Gutsy Away Win

Match Report

Defending CAF Champions League holders Pyramids FC opened their continental campaign with a precious 2-0 win away to APR FC in Kigali, taking a strong first-leg lead. The breakthrough arrived when Congolese striker Fiston Mayele struck twice, first in the 49th minute and then again in the 86th, showcasing his appetite for big-stage moments and confirming his role as the protagonist of this tie.

In a match charged with tension, Ahmed El-Shenawy stood tall between the posts, delivering several key saves to protect the lead and maintain the clean sheet. The clash also saw Krunoslav Jurcic, the Croatian coach of Pyramids, receive a red card for dissent, a moment that underscored how nervy the contest became as the away side pressed for a decisive distance ahead of the rematch in Cairo.

The game had earlier been postponed due to Pyramids’ participation in another tournament, but once on the field, the Egyptian champions demonstrated their pedigree by seizing control of the tempo early and then sealing the tie with Mayele’s second strike late in the game.

As the night wore on, APR pushed back, but the defense held firm, and the visitors’ quality told in the decisive moments. The tie now stands with Pyramids carrying a comfortable two-goal cushion into the return leg, where the winner will meet Ethio Insurance FC in the next phase of qualification.

Highlights and Aftermath

From the opening minutes, Pyramids looked to dominate possession and tempo, with Mayele’s movement posing questions for the home defense. A sequence of chances culminated in his first goal, a precise finish that punctured APR’s resistance, while El-Shenawy’s late first-half and second-half saves ensured the scoreline remained favorable.

The second half saw Mayele cap a superb night with a second goal that sealed the result, stretching the defense and finishing clinically after a swift counterattack. APR responded with resolve, but the penalty box remained a fortress for the visitors, and the hour-mark substitute changes gave Pyramids fresh legs to close out the tie.

Jurcic’s red card for arguing with the referee added a spicy wrinkle to the proceedings, though it did little to derail the Egyptian party. The victory sets up a favorable scenario for the return leg back in Cairo, where the defending champions will seek to complete the job and keep their continental bid on track.

Looking ahead, Pyramids head home with confidence and a trophy-like mindset, trusting in Mayele’s clinical finishing and El-Shenawy’s command between the posts to navigate the next hurdle and preserve momentum in their ongoing title defense.

Final note, if defense wins games, Pyramids just filed the paperwork and locked the doors. If goals were a currency, Mayele just minted a new mint and sent a few to the referee’s whistle for good luck.