By Joseph Kizza
Rwanda    0     Tanzania     2  (Kiemba 34', Bocco 54')
Burundi      0     Zanzibar       0 (Zanzibar wins 6-5 through penalties) 

Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Stars are now in the Cecafa semifinals after seeing off Rwanda’s Amavubi in a difficult two-goal clash at Lugogo, Kampala.

A goal on either half of the Monday game by Amri Kiemba and John Bocco, respectively were responsible for Rwanda’s end in this year’s tournament.

Despite the Tanzanians generally looking more mature in play, the Rwandans proved to be more dangerous in attacks, especially in the dying minutes of the game.

Bocco's goal elevates him to the top scorer position in this tournament with five goals alongside his fellow countryman Yanga's Mrisho Ngassa who had come into the quarterfinal as the leading scorer.

The first game of the tournament’s knockout stage started off on a high, with both sides tapping the ball around, but hardly ever managing a significant breakthrough.

An early free-kick for Rwanda, and a first corner for Tanzania both ended fruitless. If there was any rush for a goal either side, it was really never evident in the opening minutes.

Not much of the ball was seen nearer the edge of either goal as most of the balls remained glued within the crowded midfield. Plenty of good passes – often one-twos up and about – but with such a closed-in game, it wasn’t much.

The Rwandans bossed the ball better through the first quarter of the first half, but whenever the Tanzanians got hold of the ball, they managed to drive the ball forward.

Ngassa, arguably one of the tournament's best and lethal players, was overmarked and had little space to roll the ball foward. It is no wonder he got into an early melee with A.P.R.'s Jean-Claude Iranzi for what seemed in protest for the Tanzanian's invaded space.

The Amavubi seemed to have better luck goalwards up the right wing as were their opponents up the left wing towards the opposite direction.

And the game surely had gradually opened up, allowing the midfield more room and the wings a more feel of the balls.

Half way into the firsthalf,  a ball lobbed high into the Rwandan box floated dangerously for main target Ngassa, but the top scorer stretched more than he could get his foot onto the ball.

The ball possession that had been a part of the Amavubi desserted them as the break approached. And there was all reason to believe that the Stars were edging close to an openener courtesy of repeated attacks towards A.P.R. keeper Jean-Claude Ndoli.

Simba FC's Mwinyi Kazimoto dribbled his way ingeniously into the box, and cut a weighed pass into the path of Kiemba who tapped it comfortably into the back of the net.

The opener spurred the speed of the game even further, with the Tanzanians coming close to a second shortly after.

But the Rwandans, faced with an uphill task of a coming back, utilized every opportunity that they seized. Ismael Nshutiyamagara made a hasty attempt goalwards at a time when he should have taken his time to convert in a potential equalizer. And another last minute freekick for the trailing side was swang off target.

Haruna Niyonzima, who plays for Young Africans in Tanzania, carelessly earned a booking when he smacked Ngassa in the side of the head after a brief encounter.

Rwanda's top goal scorer (with two) and DR Congo-based player Daddy Birori battled luck throughout the game but never got to convert his attempts into the back of the net. He put up a genuinely spirited fight but it just was never his day.

The second half saw a change in the dimension of the play, with the Rwandans quicker on the ball than before. But the Tanzanians seemed to have settled into the play, especially with the hot weather taking good toll on the players.

Then the strike came. A hard shot that bounced off Ndoli ricochets back to a lurking John Bocco who taps it home but not without a slight injury in a clash with the goalstopper. Another massive reaction needed by the Rwandans.

An uncertain call for a penalty by Rwanda was ignored by the referee.

It was clear the Amavubi were not ready to give up, evidenced by a scramble for a potential comeback in the last minutes of the match. But their opponents clang on to their advantage and never let go through to the end.
In the other quarterfinal clash, Zanzibar made a surprise advance to the last four of the tournament after shaking off Burundi 6-5 though spot-kicks.
After normal time of a goalless normal time of play, the heated game settled for the penalties decider in which both captains of the two sides missed converting their penalties.
Monday's quarterfinals games produced call it, 'bizarre' developments. Two close neighbours (Rwanda and Burundi) are eliminated, and two other close neighbours (Tanzania and Zanzibar) are through. And more interestingly, two other close neighbours (Uganda and Kenya) play tomorrow (Tuesday).
The only difference with the last pair from the other two is that they will not be facing off each other. Well, atleast for now.
Burundi came into the game as clear favorites over their coastal opponents. But then the expectations of the encounter were overturned when the Zanzibarians put up a committed challenge.