Foot Airtel Cup - Red Star Defence Forces, St Michel win |30 July 2018
● Revengers’ revival rattle LightStars in 4-4 draw
Red Star Defence Forces got the better of La Digue side La Passe on a 3-2 score on Saturday afternoon at Stad Linite while on La Digue, 10-man St Michel edged Anse Reunion 1-0. On Praslin, Revengers produced a fantastic comeback to draw 4-4 with LightStars.
Red Star Defence Forces register first win
Red Star Defence Forces registered their first win in pool A with a hard fought 3-2 triumph over La Passe in a very physical match which ended on a very sad note as the official was physically assaulted.
Nonetheless, the two teams began with a minute’s silence before kick-off to pay tribute to former Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) secretary general Jemmy Adela who passed away on Tuesday.
La Passe, who were the group leaders with five points, began brightly with their latest Malagasy recruit, striker Zeze Namenjanrhary making his first start for this La Digue team.
However, Red Star Defence Forces stunned them as early as the 4th minute with their first foray forward and their own Malagasy striker Jocelyn Fenosoa was fouled by Gervais Saminaden to give away a free kick about 30 metres from goal.
Jocelyn lined up the free kick to curl it at the near post where goalkeeper Basil Esther was slow to react and could not keep the ball out as the army team took a 1-0 lead.
La Passe should have drawn level in the 17th minute when Malagasy Rhino released Perry Monnaie and Red Star Defence Forces goalkeeper Jerome Dingwall rushed off his goal line but the La Passe striker lobbed him with a looping header and Malagasy Florent chased the ball to direct into an empty goal but he just failed as Red Star Defence Forces rode their luck.
This end-to-end match between these two teams had served a treat a fortnight ago on La Digue in a 2-2 draw and in the 23rd minute, Malagasy Michel Nambintsoa skipped past a couple of La Passe defenders to fire at goalkeeper Esther who spilled the ball but he was rescued by an assistant official’s flag for offside as Corallie closed him on the loose ball.
Seconds later, Red Star Defence Forces went further ahead as Leeroy Corallie opened his account for his new team with a cracking shot from way out on the right hand side by the bye-line and the ball surprisingly sailed over goalkeeper Esther for another horrible mistake for a 2-0 advantage similar to the last time the two teams met in this group.
Red Star Defence Forces were even denied a clear penalty just past the half hour mark when Rashim Padayachy won a battle with Adrian Constance and his teasing cross came off the arm of Ian Ah-Kong who was in mid-air trying to stop the cross but referee Egbert Havelock, who had another poor game, turned a blind eye.
La Passe’s latest import Zeze had a decent chance to score on his debut in the 35th minute when Rhino set him up but he blazed wide from just outside the penalty area.
The players of coach Bruno Saindini reduced the arrears in the 37th minute from a short corner by Elton Monnaie to Florent whose cross came off the arm of Malagasy Jean Tigana and though referee Havelock allowed play to proceed, assistant referee Gilbert Lusta quite rightly raised his flag and indicated it was a penalty and Havelock had to oblige.
Rhino took responsibility of the spot kick and he made no mistake as he planted the ball past goalkeeper Dingwall to make it 1-2.
In the 39th minute, Red Star Defence Forces should have restored their two-goal cushion as Malagasy Nambintsoa twisted and turned two defenders to lay the ball on a plate to Padayachy who shot straight at goalkeeper Esther.
La Passe also went close to level the score in the 42nd minute from Rhino’s cross which Red Star Defence Forces half cleared to Florent but he volleyed inches wide for a 2-1 score at half-time.
The second half was another intense half with Red Star Defence Forces going mighty close in the 51st minute from a wicked cross by Tigana to Corallie whose glancing header flew just way off target.
Four minutes later, Red Star Defence Forces benefitted from another goalkeeping error as goalkeeper Esther failed to hold on to Tigana’s simple cross and the ball dropped invitingly to Nambintsoa who thumped it into the net for a 3-1 scoreline much to the annoyance of the La Passe coach.
The match then grew in intensity as the official failed to crack down on some crude tackles from both teams but La Passe also should have cut the deficit in the 58th minute from Senky Vidot’s free kick which was cleared to Rhino’s feet but he volleyed wide from inside the penalty area.
La Passe got a second goal on the hour mark as Monnaie threaded a pass to Florent whose rasping near post shot flashed past goalkeeper Dingwall to make it 2-3.
In the 64th minute, Red Star Defence Forces caught La Passe flat-footed at the back as Nambintsoa slipped a pass to Jocelyn who beat the offside trap to hold off the challenge of two defenders but shot straight into the inviting arms of goalkeeper Esther.
The match became very aggressive as the minutes ticked away with so much at stake for both teams and La Passe became very frustrated with their opponents’ time wasting tactics which were not addressed by referee Havelock unfortunately and when he gave three minutes of added time at the end of full time, but then blew his whistle just on the 3 minutes mark without taking into consideration most of it had not been played as Red Star Defence Forces players received treatment, the La Passe players converged on him.
The official was pushed around as several La Passe players circled him and it was a very unpleasant scene which will surely have serious repercussion for the La Digue team as the official appeared to be hit before his assistants came to offer him protection as there were sadly no police officers at the match to deal with such a situation which keeps repeating itself but the authorities do not seem interested to address them once and for all.
Red Star Defence Forces manager Philip Barbé was just relieved his team had won this very tough encounter to put them with a good chance to qualify for the quarterfinals.
“There was a lot at stake in this match as we had no choice but to go for a win at all cost and we made a bright start with two early goals but it was generally a balanced affair though we always had the edge and now we have to travel to Praslin for another tough encounter as we search for qualification for the next stage,” manager Barbé told Sports NATION.
As for La Passe coach Saindini, he was very disappointed that his players had lost this match where they needed only a point to guarantee a quarterfinal spot.
“I am extremely unhappy with our performance especially our goalkeeper who gifted our opponents three goals and we now face elimination depending on the last match and everything is out of our hands,” claimed coach Saindini whose team have five points, similar to Red Star Defence Forces who travel to Praslin to face Côte d’Or who have two points with all three teams fighting for the two top places to qualify for the quarterfinal in pool A.
Ten-man St Michel sneak past Anse Reunion
Ten-man St Michel sneaked past La Digue outfit Anse Reunion on a 1-0 score in a pool B match on Saturday afternoon at the L’Union playing field to qualify for the quarterfinal of this Airtel competition.
After a goalless first half, St Michel suffered a major setback when former St Louis defender Marlon Asba received his second yellow card from referee Nelson Emile in the 47th minute to get his marching order.
St Michel though overcame the man shortage to score what turned out to be the winner in the 83rd minute as Malagasy Livakely struck for his first goal in his third match to secure all three points for his team who have seven points with St Louis as group winners with nine points.
Revengers’ revival rattle LightStars
Praslin side Revengers produced one of the most stunning comebacks in local football as they rallied from four goals down to earn an incredible 4-4 draw against neighbours LightStars on Saturday at Stad Amitié in a pool D match.
LightStars, who have already won this group, broke the deadlock as early as the 3rd minute with a goal by Albert Rose for a 1-0 lead and in the 16th minute Malagasy Xavier made it 2-0.
In the 40th minute, Lenny Barbé stretched his team’s advantage for a 3-0 lead and on the stroke of half time, Malagasy Mario Ravo was brought down by Revengers goalkeeper Wilfred Ally and Joel Esther tucked home the spot kick awarded by referee Kerens Yocette for a 4-0 score at the interval.
Revengers scored four times within 14 minutes and they began their fight back in the 71st minute from the penalty spot after Xavier had handled in the box and Malagasy Patrick Rasaminana scored the resulting penalty for a 1-4 score.
In the 80th minute, Malagasy Marthelin netted his team’s second and two minutes later, Jocelyn Cushion also got in on the score sheet for a 3-4 scoreline.
Revengers’ new acquisition from Côte d’Or, former national team striker Dine Suzette completed the unexpected comeback as he scored in the 85th minute for an amazing 4-4 draw.
LightStars have eight points to lead the pool and will now meet St Michel in the two-legged quarterfinals, while Revengers, who have two points, still have to play defending Airtel Cup champions Northern Dynamo who have three points to decide the runners-up in pool D which will take place on Mahé this week.
R. J-L.