Football: First division league The Lions edge LightStars |03 June 2017

The Lions edged past Praslin club LightStars on a 1-0 score in a first division league encounter on Thursday evening at Sad Linite.

LightStars will be disappointed with themselves though as they missed a golden chance to climb to third place on the league table above St Michel in a match they should have won with the number of chances they created in the first half.

In the 3rd minute, Malagasy Paul Bruyelle went on a strong run to elude Rashim Padayachy and his cross flashed across the face of goal with no one to tuck home.

Bruyelle was at it again in the 15thminute when he floated an inch-perfect ball over The Lions’ defence to Renick Esther who had a clear run at goal but he shot disappointingly wide.

The Lions, who struggled to get into the match, nearly stole the lead from Malagasy Estel Randrina’s wicked free kick which was miscued by defender Rico Raoudy and it hit the post before the danger was cleared.

The Praslin side still had the better scoring opportunities and in the 35th minute, Fabio Lemiel curled in a cracking free kick which produced a flying save out of goalkeeper and captain Jerome Dingwall.

LightStars again failed to take the lead in the 43rd minute from another brilliant move by Bruyelle who skipped past two defenders to pull the ball back to Ian Vel but he failed to tuck home for a goalless first half.

The Lions were a different proposition in the second period and they took the lead in the 49th minute from Rashim Padayachy’s clever free kick which bounced awkwardly in the LightStars’ defence and there was the overlapping Darrel Damoo to head past goalkeeper Romeo Barra to make it 1-0.

A minute later, LightStars had yet recovered when Randrina hassled for the ball to rifle a stinging shot which came off the foot of the post of the LightStars’ goalpost.

LightStars thought they had drawn level in the 61st minute from Malagasy Mario Ravo’s corner which was met by the irrepressible Bruyelle’s header but the ball was cleared on the goal-line as some of the Praslin-based players felt it had crossed the line but referee Emile Fred was not convinced.

The Lions players were not happy with assistant referee Gilbert Lusta for stopping Liberian forward Mohammed Varney in his stride as he bore on goal after he was released by Randrina who was fouled in the 70th minute as they felt the advantage should have been allowed instead of flagging for the infringement.

LightStars’ only other chance to level matters came on the stroke of full-time from Bruyelle’s free kick which goalkeeper Dingwall pushed onto the crossbar to help his team win and move into sixth place on the league table while LightStars remain fourth and coach James Barra was not happy with his team’s finishing in a match they should never have lost.

“It was a similar case to our last match where we created many chances but failed to score and today we had a good first half where we created lots of chances but ended up losing the match,” coach Barra lamented to Sports NATION.

As for The Lions coach, Gavin Jeanne, he said his team’s tactical switch in the second half propelled them to the win after a poor first period.

“We lacked height in our defence and therefore we struggled in the first half but we managed to adjust after the interval to win three points which helps us secure sixth position,” claimed The Lions’ coach.

S. N.