Mayele brace sinks APR, Pyramids’ title defence starts with away win

Pyramids FC began their defence of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League with a professional 2-0 away win over Rwanda’s Army side APR on Wednesday, a tie pushed back from last week to accommodate the Egyptians’ FIFA Intercontinental Cup commitments. 

Fiston Mayele settled the first leg with two second-half strikes, leaving the defending champions strongly placed ahead of next week’s return in Cairo.

APR started brightly and twice went close either side of the interval, only to be denied by goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy and the woodwork.

Pyramids, who had threatened through a fierce Muhannad Lasheen drive before the break, landed the game’s decisive punch three minutes into the second half when Mayele arrowed in from the edge of the box.

The hosts kept pressing. An APR header was clawed away by El-Shenawy, a close-range finish was ruled out for offside on 80 minutes and the crossbar then foiled a late equaliser.

With the game stretched, Pyramids showed their tournament nous: a swift transition released Mayele and the DR Congo international stayed ice-cool to make it 2-0 on 85 minutes.

There was further drama when Pyramids head coach Krunoslav Jurčić was dismissed for protesting a decision with 17 minutes to play, but his side’s control of the big moments never wavered.

For APR, who also struck the post deep into stoppage time, the performance offered encouragement but the deficit is a heavy one to overturn on the road.

The second leg is scheduled for Sunday, 5 October, at the Air Defense Stadium.

Pyramids need only to manage the game state to book a place in the Second Preliminary Round; APR must score early to revive the tie.