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Archive - Archive 2004 - July 2013

Football: Land Marine Cup final-St Michel clinch Cup over Red Star |06 November 2006

Football: Land Marine Cup final-St Michel clinch Cup over Red Star

 St Michel’s goalkeeper Sopha receives the Land Marine Cup from Vice-President Belmont and Mr Prea (1st left)

Red Star started brightly though and in the opening seconds, Malagasy Amisy Voavy eluded two defenders to force a corner.

Despite the absence of suspended Malagasy midfielder Taly, Red Star were very offensive early on and in the 12th minute, they almost scored as Malagasy Guy Rene Raberante released Wilnes Brutus with a long ball, but St Michel’s goalie Nelson Sopha came out quickly to half-clear the danger.

The ball fell to Malagasy Amisy Voavy whose goal-bound shot was cleared by St Michel’s captain Godfrey Denis and the ball dropped into the gloves of the back-pedaling goalie Sopha, much to his relief.

In the 17th minute, Red Star took the lead as Wilnes Brutus latched on to Allen Larue’s long ball and he out-sprinted the St Michel defence. With goalie Sopha unable to get to Wilnes Brutus’ low cross, Derreck Omath, who was deputising for the suspended Taly, rammed the ball home.

St Michel had to react and they went on to pressure Red Star midway in this half. In the 24th minute, St Michel’s Alex Nibourette’s cross was met by Philip Zialor’s header which was easily saved by Red Star’s goalie Joel Lesperance.

A minute later on the counter, Wilnes Brutus created havoc in St Michel’s defence and threaded a pass to Bernard St Ange who could not control the ball.

St Michel increased the pressure in the latter stages of this half as both Don Anacoura and Jeffrey Brutus went close.

In the 44th minute, St Michel’s industry paid off as Philip Zialor’s filtered pass released Anacoura who held off the challenge of Allen Larue to drive the ball home for a 1-1 score.

On the stroke of half-time, St Michel again went close to score as Garry Robert picked out Nibourette who, instead of crossing to two unmarked colleagues, went for glory but his shot flew wide.

St Michel came back for the second half with all guns blazing and in the opening seconds Anacoura shot over the bar with the goal begging as Red Star had to re-organise with Radley Monthy having replaced injured Malagasy Raberante.

In the 49th minute, St Michel created a great opportunity but Zialor’s fantastic header was tipped over by goalie Lesperance who was alert to the danger.

Two minutes later, St Michel’s Neddy Rose bore forward and his header was saved by a vigilant goalie Lesperance.

Red Star, who missed the presence of Malagasy Raberante in the second half as he had marked Zialor closely during the first period, opened up St Michel’s defence on the hour mark through Omath’s cross which Wilnes Brutus headed over.

St Michel though raised the tempo and in the 64th minute, Jeffrery Brutus was twice denied as he looked odds on to beat goalie Lesperance.

Two minutes later (66th minute), St Michel went ahead. Jeffrey Brutus’ corner kick was headed home at the far post by captain Godfrey Denis. The defender’s goal proved to be the winner.

As Red Star pressed forward, Zialor should have killed off the contest in the 70th minute as he exchanged passes with Jeffrey Brutus but shot weakly at goalie Lesperance.

In the 89th minute as Red Star pressed for an equaliser, goalie Sopha failed to clear a long ball which rolled wide with Wilnes Brutus lurking.

Seconds later, Amisy’s goal-bound header from a St Ange corner was cleared on the goal-line by Joel Barbé.

As Red Star contemplated the missed opportunities, St Michel countered and Anacoura held off his defender to slip a pass to Jeffrey Brutus who looked odds on to score but he fired wide as St Michel held on for a deserved victory in a very entertaining match.

St Michel’s manager Brian Uranie told Sports Nation that his team deserved victory judging on their performance and more so after conceding the First Division League title to Anse Réunion. He was very pleased with the team’s second half showing.

ST MICHEL ... Land Marine Cup 2006 winners

As for Red Star’s Malagasy coach Mosa, he accepted that St Michel played better and were worthy winners and congratulated them. But he moaned that injury and suspension had weakened his team and eventually cost them victory.

At the end of the match, which was very well officiated by Gonzague Boniface and his assistants, cups and medals were presented by Vice-President Joseph Belmont, principal secretary for the Arts, Culture and Sports Denis Rose, Seychelles Football Federation chairman Suketu Patel and Land Marine Ltd assistant manager Dave Prea.

R. J-L.

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