Football: Division one league Red Star Defence Forces squeeze past Au Cap |17 March 2018
Red Star Defence Forces registered their second division one league win as they squeezed past newcomers Au Cap FC on a narrow 1-0 scoreline at Stad Linite on Thursday afternoon.
This match started with a minute’s silence observed by both teams in the centre circle in honour of former Seychelles Football Federation chairman, the late Finley Racombo who was buried on Thursday itself.
Red Star Defence Forces tried to apply the early pressure against Au Cap who had given a debut to former Foresters defender, Malagasy Edgard Nandresena and new import, Ghanaian forward Emmanuel Armah.
The army team’s Errol Bacco looked lively in this half as he shot tamely at Au Cap goalkeeper Gerard Tirant in the 13th minute after a strong run and four minutes later, he picked out Malagasy Jocelyn with a cross field pass allowing the former St Michel striker to fire a stinging shot which goalkeeper Tirant parried.
Red Star Defence Forces wasted a clear chance in the 21st minute when captain Warren Mellie and Barry Marie got in each other’s way to meet Malagasy Jean Tigana’s teasing free kick.
In the 35th minute, Bacco latched onto Marie’s through ball to burst through on the right and his low raking shot was turned into corner by a busy goalkeeper Tirant.
Au Cap almost stunned Red Star Defence Forces on the stroke of half time from a neat one-two involving Chris Uranie and debutant Armah and the former’s near post shot forced goalkeeper Jerome Dingwall to turn the ball into corner for a 0-0 score at half-time.
Red Star Defence Forces brought on Malagasy Michel Nambintsoa and Kenner Nourrice in the second half to bring more urgency to their play and in the 58th minute Jocelyn should have done better from a rare mistake by defender Edgard to let him in but he shot weakly at goalkeeper Tirant.
However, Au Cap should have taken the lead on the hour mark from captain Dean Balette’s floated free kick in their opponents’ penalty area to the unmarked Marcus Louise but he headed across the face of goal.
In the 62nd minute, Red Star Defence Forces had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down when Darwind Rosette went down under Jemmy Volcy’s challenge.
Red Star Defence Forces upped the tempo and in the 69th minute Jocelyn saw his curling free kick turned onto the crossbar before the danger was cleared.
In the 74th minute, captain Mellie almost scored a sensational 35-metre sweetly struck volley from a poor clearance by Edgard which looked destined for goal but it ricocheted off the foot of the post.
Au Cap had another gilt edge opportunity in the 83rd minute from Armah’s well-weighted pass to Uranie who sneaked in behind defender Andrew Onezia but Uranie’s lob sailed agonisingly wide.
Two minutes later, Red Star Defence Forces got a lucky break when Au Cap defender Savio Labiche missed his clearance to let in Jocelyn who exploited space to pick out Tigana whose volley was pushed onto the crossbar and there was the lurking Nambintsoa to head home to make it 1-0 to the relief of his supporters.
On the stroke of full-time, Red Star Defence Forces were awarded a penalty by referee Bernard Camille after Nambintsoa and Tigana combined and Nambintsoa was felled by Ghanaian Armah to concede a needless penalty.
However, Jocelyn lofted his chip over the crossbar to leave the final score 1-0 for his team’s second win and hand Au Cap their second loss in the top flight though their coach Roger Labonte was generally satisfied with his team’s showing.
“It was an improved performance today except that a lapse in concentration late in the match gifted our opponents a goal. But there were encouraging signs especially in defence,” said coach Labonté.
As for Red Star Defence Forces manager Philip Barbé, he was just relieved his team collected the three points.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult match against an opponent that had lost their first match and we had to re-organise tactically in the second half to claim three vital points,” manager Barbé said.
R. J-L.