Wasteful Gor Mahia held by Rayon Sports in Kigali
What you need to know:
- Meddie Kagere struck the opener for the Kenyan champions before Eric Rutanga levelled for the hosts with a brilliant free-kick to ensure both teams head for the break tied.
- Francis Kahata, Kagere and Jacques Tuyisenge were all guilty of wasting open chances for the Dylan Kerr-led K'Ogalo.
A wasteful Gor Mahia were held to a 1-1 draw by hosts Rayon Sports in their opening Group D match of the Caf Confederation Cup at a rain-soaked Nyamirambo Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda on Sunday.
Meddie Kagere struck the opener for the Kenyan champions before Eric Rutanga levelled for the hosts with a brilliant free-kick to ensure both teams head for the break tied.
Francis Kahata, Kagere and Jacques Tuyisenge were all guilty of wasting open chances for the Dylan Kerr-led K'Ogalo.
Both teams started with a 4-4-2 formation that had Kagere and Tuyisenge starting upfront for K'Ogalo and Ismail Diarra and Cristina Mbondi starting in attack for the hosts.
Malian striker Diarra had Rayon Sports' first chance in the eighth minute but his hastily taken shot ended up narrowly missing the target.
Kagere then netted the first goal against the run of play, 10 minutes into the match after beating the offside trap, rounding off goalkeeper Eric Ndashimiye before slotting the ball into an empty net.
The veteran Rwandan striker then released a bicycle kick six minutes later, sending the ball towards Kahata's way but his header missed the targed.
Rutanga then levelled matters with a well-taken free-kick that left Gor goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch rooted to his spot on 24 minutes.
Rutanga's expertly taken free-kick soared over the wall, giving Oluoch no chance.
This equaliser changed the dynamics of the game and the hosts appeared to attack with more confidence thereafter.
No further goals were witnessed in the first half as both teams retreated to the dressing rooms to strategise for the second period.
The second half was an end-to-end affair with both K'Ogalo and the hosts creating chances but failing to convert them. The rain however didn't make it any easier for either side.
Kahata had another miss in the 82nd minute when he was set up by Kagere, only for his resultant shot to go narrowly wide.
Gor will face Algeria's USM Alger at home in their next match of the Caf Confederation Cup as Rayon travel to Tanzania to tackle Young Africans.
