Football: Airtel Cup-Brutus’ second consecutive hat-trick gives Red Star double win |14 May 2005

Brutus opened the scoring in the 10th minute, but Red Star failed to increase their lead, allowing Light Stars, who were in with a slight chance of challenging La Passe for the last semifinal berth from group B, to equalise in the 46th minute.

Red Star’s goalkeeper Joel Lesperance was at fault as he allowed a Light Stars player to play the ball before him to then release Congolese midfielder Magnifique Ndikumana who coolly slotted the ball home to level the score.

Left-footed winger Radley Monthy gave Red Star the lead in the 75th minute when his cross from the left sailed over Light Stars’ goalie Terrence Payet and into the net.

It seemed that Monthy was extra motivated to play his former team and he provided a perfectly weighted cross for substitute Elvis Julius who headed the ball into Brutus’ path and the striker made no mistake from close range.

Brutus put the icing on the cake and completed his hat-trick after turning well to rifle the ball past goalie Payet from inside Light Stars’ penalty area.

With 19 points, Red Star cannot be caught by La Passe who will finish with 16 points if they win their remaining two matches.

Group B winners Red Star will play the runners-up of group A on Friday May 27 before taking on Italian Serie C1/A champions US Cremonese during the first week of June.

“We’re safe now. No one can catch us but we have to wait to know our semifinal opponents. The goals came late today (Thursday) but I’m happy with the win,” Red Star’s Malagasy coach Mosa, whose opposite number Thierry Hitimana of Light Stars wished him good luck for the rest of the competition, told Sports Nation after the match.

Defeat for Lights Stars means that La Passe only need a point in today’s (Saturday) match against Baie Ste Anne 96ers on La Digue to be sure of qualifying for the semifinals.