Football: Sunkiss'd league division one-Wins for Red Star and Sunshine |12 July 2004

On Saturday at the same venue, new-look Sunshine shocked reigning League champions St Michel 1-0 and on La Digue, home team Anse Réunion were held to a 1-1 draw by St Louis.

After coming out on top in their last three league games, Red Star, under the captaincy of Percy Laramé, had nothing else on their minds but to extend their winning streak against SMB last Friday.

Red Star broke the deadlock as early as the eighth minute through prolific scorer Wilnes Brutus, scorer of three hat-tricks in his first three matches and who has now scored 11 goals in four games.

Joel Barra, who was deputising for the injured Rene-Yves Raonizory, robbed a defender of the ball and after a darting run on the right flank, played a deep cross to strike partner Wilnes Brutus who rose majestically to head it past a bemused goalie Kitson Cécile.

After the early goal, the game lacked intensity and goal-mouth actions, but in the 31st minute goalie Cécile had to pull off a good save to deny Wilnes Brutus who had fired in a fierce shot at the far post from his elder brother Jeffrey Brutus' assist.

Coach Mosa's Red Star stepped a little harder on the accelerator in the second period and their effort paid off in the 80th minute.

Substitute Tony Morel made the most of a goalkeeping error by keeper Cécile to tuck home a Ted Radegonde curled free-kick which was spilled by the SMB custodian.

Speaking to Sports Nation at the end of the game, Red Star's coach Mosa said that he was happy with the win and the fact that they are still unbeaten in four outings.

Red Star, the only team to have garnered maximum points in four matches, lead the 10-team league standings with 12 points.

Sunshine shock St Michel

Sunshine who came into Saturday's match as underdogs after having lost their first three league matches pulled off a shocking 1-0 win against St Michel.

The morale-boosting victory over St Michel have put Sunshine back on course in the fight to preserve their first division status after a rather poor display in the Airtel Cup and a bad start to the league campaign.

St Michel, missing key players like goalkeeper Nelson Sopha, central defender Zablon Amanaka and midfielder Don Anacoura, could have scored in the 17th minute but the usually reliable Marcel Labiche headed a James Bonne teasing cross onto the cross-bar after having outjumped the Sunshine defence. 

Sunshine responded two minutes later (19th) through captain Denis Barbé who fended off a defender's challenge and after a brilliant control slotted the ball past goalie Egbert Havelock to put Sunshine in the lead.

Sunshine could have increased their lead in the 53rd minute but Robert Suzette shot straight into goalie Havelock's gloves a Nerick Athanase through-ball. Then Athanase missed a seater in the 72nd minute, this time shooting wide Suzette's square pass.

Desperate to find the equaliser, St Michel pressed Sunshine in their own half and seven minutes before the final whistle, custodian Philip Battin blocked Gary Robert's 25-metre effort which was heading for goal.

A jubilant Sunshine coach Elvis Uzice told Sports Nation after the game that he was happy with his team's display and congratulated his players for their good showing.

"We were very unlucky in our first three League matches and today (Saturday), I am happy that we have finally put an end to our losing streak and beat St Michel who are considered as one of the best teams here," he said.

St Louis and Anse Réunion in stalemate

St Louis, who have not been impressive in their last two games, losing 2-4 to La Passe and drawing 1-1 to SMB, once again shared the points in a 1-1 draw with Anse Réunion on La Digue on Saturday.

St Louis were the first to score in the 25th minute through deadly striker Philip Zialor, who has found the net once in each of his team's four matches.

Anse Réunion's goal came in the 48th minute and the scorer was Malagasy import Firinga Fahidany.

Anse Réunion now have 10 points to their accounts following three victories and a draw and they are currently second in the standings.

C. J.