Football: Confederations Cup – first round, first leg-Crushing defeat leaves Red Star with mountain to climb |07 March 2005

Inside Stad Linite and with some 2,500 spectators having braved the hot weather to see the Land Marine Cup champions take on SuperSport United FC on Saturday, Red Star’s play disintegrated after the early goal, probably thinking that they could get an easy win.

The 1-4 loss means that Red Star’s dream of progressing to the second round of the competition is practically nil as it is likely to be too tall an order for Malagasy coach Mosa’s players to be able to overturn the score in South Africa in a fortnight.

A SuperSport United FC member even told Sports Nation after Saturday’s match that Red Star “will take nine goals in South Africa”.

Not in the same league as Mauritian side Savanne Sporting Club whom Red Star hammered 4-0 in the preliminary round return leg match for a 4-2 aggregate score, SuperSport United FC, with lanky striker Dale Studinski and Swazi winger Tony Tsabedze netting a brace apiece, built their attacks properly to launch assaults on Red Star’s goalkeeper Andrew Valentin’s goal.

The defeat proves that Seychelles football has a long way to go if it is to rival with the best in Africa and start dreaming of reaching the final stages of the Confederation of African Football’s (Caf) two club competitions – the Confederations Cup and Champions League.

SuperSport United FC, having reached the group stage of last year’s African Champions League, showed in their play that the gap between the continent’s top clubs and Seychelles’ teams is continuously getting bigger, meaning that our football lags behind tactically, technically and not forgetting physical fitness.

Still, SuperSport United FC’s coach Pitso Mosimane told Sports Nation that his team’s performance wasn’t good.

“I have to be smart. I’m not trying to play or look good. My team played very bad today (Saturday), but the score is good. The delivery was not good and we missed many chances. That’s not my team. Red Star could not last as long as we did in the hot and humid condition. You have to take into consideration that my players are full-time professionals and it’s difficult for me to compare my team with Red Star,” said coach Mosimane.

As for Mosa, he had this to say:
“After scoring the first goal, my players lessened their grip on the match and SuperSport United FC, who are a very good side, punished us.”

The goals

Red Star shocked the visitors in the sixth minute. Diminutive Malagasy midfielder Taly released Wilnes Brutus and in a good shooting position, the striker delayed his shot. He then rounded SuperSport United FC skipper Ricardo Katsa and goalkeeper Calvin Marlin before shooting into an empty net (1-0).

Left unmarked inside the penalty area, striker Dale Studinski equalised for SuperSport United FC with a glancing header from Richard Ranijie’s 27th minute cross-cum-shot (1-1).

Seconds after play had re-started, Red Star’s Bernard St Ange lost possession to Tony Tshabedze who played a one-two with Studinski before firing low out of keeper Valentin’s reach (1-2).

SuperSport United FC’s right back Philip Evans crossed the ball inside Red Star’s penalty area in the 56th minute and Studinski connected with an easy header as keeper Valentin could not reach it (1-3).

Red Star’s left back Ted Radegonde fouled SuperSport United FC’s tricky winger Ranijie on the left of keeper Valentin’s penalty area in the 68th minute. Tshabedze quickly fired the ball over the wall and into the right corner of the goal of the wrongly positioned keeper Valentin (1-4).

G. G.