Football: Sunkiss'd division one-Baldé's last-minute penalty helps St Louis to victory |27 July 2004

Spectators, who came in their thousands to watch the two saints in action, got their money's worth as they were treated to some fast-flowing and entertaining football though at times the match developed into a physical contest.

St Louis, fielding former Kenya Pipeline midfielder Gwana Sila who is on a three-month contract with the club after successfully completing a three-week trial, got off to a fast start.

Sila robbed defender Denis Belle of the ball in the eighth minute before releasing Baldé, who in turn played a neat cross to Zialor but the prolific scorer inexplicably shot wide from point-blank range.

St Louis should have broken the deadlock in the 27th minute when Baldé pounced on a defender Belle mistake to round St Michel's international custodian Nelson Sopha before crossing to Zialor inside the danger zone. When Zialor was about to strike the ball, Belle tackled him in the nick of time to redeem himself.

Zialor again came close in the 30th minute but his flicked header from a Baldé teasing cross was blocked by keeper Sopha.

St Michel's Belle rose majestically in the 38th minute to head a captain Danny César free-kick across the face of goal.

St Louis, under the leadership of coach Marc Mathiot, started the second period in the best possible way as they opened the scoring in the 46th minute from keeper Sopha's dreadful mistake.

The usually reliable keeper sent a routine goal-kick straight into Baldé's feet and the skilful striker crossed to strike partner Philip Zialor who tucked the ball past a bemused Sopha to give St Louis the lead.

The goal silenced the St Michel supporters, but did not dampen the team's fighting spirit.

St Michel's Kenyan import Isaiah Onyango's 61st minute header from a Roddy Victor cross blazed over the cross-bar.

Two minutes later (63rd), St Michel got the equaliser through Kenyan midfielder Moses Gikenyi who outjumped the St Louis defence to head Alex Nibourette's well-curled free-kick into the net.

Substitute Denis Zialor should have put St Louis back into the lead in the 89th minute but his 25-metre effort sailed just wide with keeper Sopha beaten.

In the final minute of the encounter, Roddy César, formerly with Red Star and St Michel, went on a good run inside St Michel's penalty area and defender Harry Libanotis put his hand to the ball to cut out the midfielder's attempted cross to Zialor.

Referee Jourdan Benstrong did not hesitate to award St Louis a penalty and Baldé stepped up to beat keeper Sopha who was rooted to his spot.

After the match, St Louis' coach Mathiot told Sports Nation that the win has kept them in the title race.

"I am happy with the victory which has kept up in the title race. We trained hard for the match and I am glad that we have reaped the fruits of hours of training," he said, adding that he was impressed with Sila's performance.

"We will definitely sign him up. He is the player we were looking for."

The win, St Louis' third in six games, has helped them to third position, leapfrogging La Passe who fell 0-1 to leaders Red Star last Saturday.

For their part, St Michel, whose defeat on Sunday was their third in three consecutive matches, have now slipped to seventh position with five points after a win, two draws and three losses in six outings.

C. J.