Football: SFF Cup - Glacis overcome Etoile to reach semifinal |20 October 2017
Second division side Glacis overcame a persistent opponent in the shape of Etoile, the Inner Island league leaders, 1-0 at Stad Linite on Wednesday evening to progress to the semifinals of the SFF Cup.
This match almost never took place as both teams arrived sporting an orange coloured kit and despite negotiations for one to change to a green jersey provided by the Seychelles Football Federation, it was only at 5.40pm that the Glacis camp agreed to change as they must have realised that they were the home team and were not wearing the home colour which is yellow and therefore stood a chance of losing this match for technical reasons.
As for the match, Glacis almost broke the deadlock in the opening second after kick-off when Steven Telemaque raced on a long ball and tried to lob goalkeeper Wilfred Ally but the ball flew agonisingly wide.
Etoile responded on the half hour mark from a half volley by Moritzo Capricieuse which goalkeeper Jeremy Mein blocked with his feet.
Glacis’ Hendrix Labrosse should have done better in the 35th minute from Steven Telemaque’s cross but he fired over the crossbar from a good scoring position for a goalless first half.
In the 49th minute Steven Telemaque cushioned a header from a long ball into the path of Labrosse but he shot tamely at goalkeper Ally.
Labrosse though made amends two minutes later as he latched onto a through ball to slip the ball past goalkeeper Ally to make it 1-0 but this goal should never have stood as there was a blatant foul on Etoile’s Honore Saindina in the middle of the park and referee Alix Bonne wrongly allowed play to go on. The Praslin team were furious with the official for not calling for the foul which then proved costly as they conceded.
On the hour mark, Glacis won a penalty from a reckless tackle by the Etoile captain Ervin Cadence on Labrosse who bore on goal and the official quite rightly pointed to the spot.
The normally reliable Steve Henriette from the penalty spot took responsibility but amazingly he blasted the ball over the crossbar to let their opponents off the hook.
This boosted the morale of the Inner island team who pushed forward for an equaliser and in the 65th minute, captain Cadence forced a good save out of goalkeeper Mein who had to tip the dipping free kick over the crossbar.
Four minutes later, the Inner Island league leaders’ top scorer Randolf Bresson pounced on a threaded pass but he tried to squeeze the ball at the near post when he should have played it across goal to his teammates.
Etoile’s last chance of sending this match into extra time came on the stroke of full-time from Dino Chrysostome’s free kick to substitute Michel Gappy whose flicked header goalkeeper Mein grabbed hold of at the second attempt to end the fairytale of this small team with a big heart who have won many admirers so far this season.
As for Glacis, their adventure continues and coach Ronny Hoareau told Sports NATION that they are really enjoying their cup run.
“We are really enjoying ourselves and today we met a very good opponent who were very solid physically in a tight match but we are happy to continue our cup run and it has been a good achievement to reach the semifinals and why not if we meet Northern Dynamo in the next round, this would be interesting,” stated coach Hoareau as most of his current players and himself are former Northern Dynamo players originating from the same district.
As for Etoile coach, former cyclist Robert Hoareau, he was pleased with his team’s performance despite being knocked out.
“We played quite well and the match was quite interesting though I feel we were the better team but our opponents were just lucky to win and I would like to wish them well in this cup competition and for the rest of the season,” the Etoile coach told Sports NATION.
R. J-L.