Football: Airtel Cup-Firinga rescues Anse Réunion as Sunshine garner first point |07 May 2005

Winless in six matches before Thursday’s encounter, Sunshine looked like celebrating victory for the first time in the competition when Eric Bertin applied the finishing touch to Ronny Rose’s 29th minute cross, giving Anse Réunion’s goalkeeper Ricky Rose no chance.

Already out of the running for a place in the semifinals, Sunshine, with Brian Souyana marshalling their defence but with injured international midfielder and captain Denis Barbé still unavailable for selection, held their lead until the 57th minute.

A lapse of concentration in defence allowed Malagasy midfielder striker Firinga Fahidany to control the ball well from inside Sunshine’s penalty area before unleashing a powerful volley which beat goalie Philip Battin.

Despite letting in the equaliser, the boys of technical advisor Ulric Mathiot still went forward in search of the winning goal but most of their chances went begging as they were often times caught between two minds.

Anse Réunion, with substitute Sandro Bibi calming things in the middle of the park and distributing the ball well, could not do much better in front of goal as they were thwarted by Sunshine’s defenders.

Anse Réunion could regret dropping two points against Sunshine as they now have only one point more than third-placed St Louis who boast 10 points. Both teams have played six matches, one more than leaders St Michel who have garnered 13 points and play Survivors this afternoon.

It is to note that Sunshine have scored just three goals so far in the competition and two of those have come against Anse Réunion.

G. G.