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Football: PillayR Group Cup |14 October 2016

 

 

 

 

Anse Reunion beat Victoria City thanks to Randrina’s hat-trick

 

Anse Reunion reached the quarterfinals of the PillayR Group Cup competition inspired by a hat-trick by Malagasy Estel Randrina for a 3-1 win over second division side Victoria City on Wednesday afternoon at Stad Linite.

It was a good response from the players of coach Ted Esther who had appealed to them to return to training ahead of this encounter after their 1-1 draw against St John Bosco over the weekend.

However, Victoria City made a bright start to this match as they went close in the 12th minute from Markus Benoit’s long free kick into the penalty area to captain Kelly Nibourette whose flick header was saved by goalkeeper Ricky Rose.

Anse Reunion responded a minute later in a counter as Stan Fanchette carried the ball forward in a two-on-one situation but the midfielder picked the wrong pass to Randrina to waste a glorious opportunity.

Anse Reunion, who had to deploy Roderick Rose in central defence as Malagasy Eddy Ranjoriamihaja was not too well after the boat trip to Mahe, should have broken the deadlock in the 23rd minute when captain Yelvanny Rose spread a pass to Malagasy Hugo Sezou who left Dave Malcouzane in his wake to centre an inch-perfect ball to captain Rose but he could not direct a free header on target as he received the return pass.

Two minutes later, Randrina raced clear to send a teasing ball across goal to Achille Ernesta but he just could not connect under pressure from a defender breathing down his neck.

Anse Reunion took the lead in this match in the 32nd minute following a brilliant through ball from captain Yelvanny Rose to Randrina who beat Victoria City’s offside trap to dribble past goalkeeper Steve Morgan and shoot into an empty net for a 1-0 lead.

Anse Reunion nearly added a second goal six minutes later as Randrina, who gave the Victoria City defence a run around all afternoon with his blistering pace, set up Achille Ernesta but in a good goal scoring position, he blazed wide.

The La Digue side stretched their advantage in the 42nd minute from a long ball to Achille Ernesta and goalkeeper Morgan raced out to intervene but only cleared as far as Randrina who punished his poor clearance as he lobbed the ball into the gaping goal for a 2-0 score.

On the stroke of half time, Victoria City almost cut the deficit from Leeroy Chetty’s corner which dropped to captain Kelly Nibourette who tried to force the ball over the goal line but goalkeeper Ricky Rose smothered it at the second attempt.

Victoria City came back for the second half more determined to close the gap and should have reduced the arrears in the 55th minute after some good work by Jude Botsoie as he hassled for the ball to cross to captain Nibourette but he missed a sitter from close range as his shot lacked power to trouble goalkeeper Rose.

Anse Reunion then scored again as Randrina bagged his hat-trick in the 58th minute after some neat approach play involving Ugandan midfielder Kanakuma Baryeno and captain Yelvanny Rose who filtered a pass to Randrina and he sprung Victoria City’s offside trap to glide past reserve goalkeeper Andrew Renaud who had come in after the re-start in place of Morgan. Randrina then placed the ball into an unguarded net to give his team an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Randrina, who was limping after his exploits, almost added a fourth goal in the 69th minute as he latched onto another captain Yelvanny Rose’s threaded pass to him but this time the outrushing goalkeeper Renaud got a tackle to put the Malagasy off track.

Nonetheless, Victoria City should be credited as they kept trying and in the 73rd minute Botsoie got the better of Anse Reunion’s Elton Monnaie to bore on goal but he shot straight at goalkeeper Rose.

The second division outfit, who lie second in their league and have title aspirations, scored a consolation goal in the 83rd minute from Chris Azemia’s cross which Anse Reunion goalkeeper Rose came out to intercept but then slipped awkwardly to let in Hubert Jean to tuck the ball home to make it 1-3 .

Anse Reunion went close to netting a fourth in the 88th minute as captain Yelvanny Rose released Baryeno who galloped down the right and fired at goalkeeper Renaud who turned the ball into corner.

Anse Reunion though had managed to resist the challenge of City helped by their ruthless striker Randrina who had to be replaced in the 74th minute with a knee injury but coach Ted Esther was just pleased they had overcome this hurdle.

“It was a decent performance and I’m satisfied with this result against an ever-improving young team but for us our target was to reach the next round as we aim to go as far as possible in this competition,” the Anse Reunion coach told Sports Nation.

As for Victoria City coach Gerald Gonthier, he was not disappointed with his team as he felt they gave a good account of themselves in this match against first division opposition.

“My players gave their maximum and I am quite satisfied with their showing as it was a good preparation for a decisive match we are facing later this month in the second division title race against SPDF,” revealed coach Gonthier.

 

R. J-L.

 

 

 

 

 

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