Football: Transitional league Division one |13 July 2019

Northern Dynamo inflict defeat on Au Cap

Northern Dynamo defeated Au Cap 2-1 at Stad Linite on Thursday afternoon in a first division Transitional league fixture.

This match though was marred in the dying minutes with what looked like a serious injury to Au Cap substitute goalkeeper, Cameroonian Frank Moutoni who had to be transported to hospital with a suspected broken right leg as a result of a crude tackle from Northern Dynamo substitute Aldo Dufresne in this match that the north Mahé team had dominated from the word go.

In the 6th minute, Malagasy Patrick Rasaminana weaved his way past a couple of defenders to fire at goalkeeper Christopher Legaie but the ball was deflected into corner.

Northern Dynamo had an even better chance in the 21st minute from Errol Bastienne’s pinpoint cross to Carlos Simeon who was in the clear but his control let him down in a good scoring position.

Au Cap should have opened the scoring though in the 28th minute from Sean Romain’s through ball to Wallus Mondon which Dynamo goalkeeper Ricky Pool rushed out to cut out the ball but then he fumbled the ball into the feet of the young striker who surprisingly blazed wide when he looked odds on to score as Dynamo rode their luck.

Dynamo went ahead in this encounter in the 35th minute with some smart play involving Lucas Panayi who sweetly back heeled to Malagasy Rajamana whose brilliant cross was headed past goalkeeper Legaie by Simeon to make it 1-0.

Rajamana should have got on the score sheet three minutes later from Rasaminana’s corner which was diverted into his path by Marlon Sophola but he shot across goal.

Dynamo though added a second goal in the 43rd minute as Panayi released Simeon but he flashed his shot across the face of goal but Rajamana retrieved the ball to roll into the path of Rasaminana who thumped it into the roof of the net for a 2-0 lead at half-time.

Au Cap made two substitutions for the second period bringing on goalkeeper Moutoni for Legaie and Tyron Thomas to try and improve their showing but it was Dynamo who had another decent chance in the opening minute as Bastienne released Rajamana who centred to the former St Louis striker Simeon whose shot was blocked by goalkeeper Moutoni.

Au Cap goalkeeper Moutoni stood defiant in the 48th minute to push away Rajamana’s stinging shot and after Rasaminana had eluded his marker to tee him up and the loose ball fell to Panayi whose header was tipped away to safety for a double save.

Au Cap should have reduced the arrears in the 54th minute when substitute Mikael Jean combined with Thierry Camille but the former lobbed wide when he should have hit the target.

The players of coach Roger Labonté cut the deficit with a superb goal in the 65th minute from Thomas’ cross to Femus Kasmayer who struck a brilliant left foot volley into the roof of the net for a 1-2 score.

Dynamo had a glorious opportunity to extend their lead in the 76th minute from a brilliant pass to Rajamanana who volleyed wide to waste a good chance.

The game was stopped in the 85th minute as Dynamo substitute Aldo Dufresne was involved in a crude challenge with Moutoni who got to the ball before his former Dynamo teammate and the much travelled goalkeeper stayed on the ground in deep pain as he bore the brunt of the tackle and he yelled in pain of a suspected broken leg before he was transported by ambulance to hospital.

The game went on afterwards as Carlos André took over in goal for Au Cap but both camps were more concerned with the wellbeing of goalkeeper Moutoni after the match with Dynamo manager Nigel Michaud-Payet wishing him a speedy recovery.

“It was unfortunate the incident as both players went for the ball but I wish Frank a quick recovery for this setback but as for my team, we were too complacent in front of goal as we should have scored more goals but took things too easy and our opponents put us under pressure in the second period,” Dynamo manager Michaud-Payet said.

As for Au Cap coach Roger Labonté, he was saddened by the nasty injury sustained by his goalkeeper but felt his team also were sluggish in the first half.

“We began the first half at a low tempo and made lots of mistakes but we did improve our performance after the break but it was affected by the injury late in this match,” reflected coach Labonté.

R. J-L.