Football: First division league - LightStars hold champions St Louis to draw |24 March 2018

Praslin side LightStars held league champions St Louis to a 0-0 draw in a first division league match on Thursday afternoon at Stad Linite.

It was the defending champions’ second consecutive draw, while LightStars remain unbeaten in three matches under new coach Ted Esther.

St Louis though went out for an early goal as Nigerian Kazeem Adeyeri returned to the starting line-up and he had the best chance in the first half when Karl Hall broke clear to set him up in the 6th minute but his sliding shot came off the foot of the post of goalkeeper Romeo Barra.  

LightStars packed their midfield and relied on the counter with Renick Esther forcing a good low save out of St Louis’ Malagasy goalkeeper Michel in the 11th minute after a lay off from Malagasy Paul Bruyelle.

In the 18th minute, windsurfer Bertrand Lablache latched onto LightStars’ new Malagasy recruit Xavier’s through ball to lob the advancing goalkeper Michel but St Louis skipper Bertrand Esther recovered in time to clear the danger for a goalless first half.

St Louis raised the tempo after the interval and in the 47th minute, Adeyeri raced through to fire at goalkeeper Romeo Barra who produced a brilliant one-handed save to deny him.

Four minutes later, Adeyeri surged into the box past a couple of defenders but shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

LightStars also had their moment to put the cats among the pigeons from Ian Vel’s flicked header to Renick Esther in the 64th minute but he shot tamely at goalkeeper Michel for a drab goalless draw which disappointed St Louis head coach Michel Renaud.

“We are disappointed with our performance especially in attack in a match where we had lots of possession and where we should have made the difference but we need to work harder in training to improve our forward line to be more effective,” coach Renaud said.

As for LightStars coach Esther, he said it was a very good defensive display to keep their opponents at bay.

“We are very satisfied with the team’s performance as our defensive and midfield performed well and we are happy with the point,” the LightStars coach related to Sports NATION.

R. J-L.