Football: Airtel Cup-The Lions snatch a point from SMB |04 April 2006

SMB  started brightly and took the lead in the 18th minute after Dave Tirant was brought down in the penalty area.

Luc Lespoir beat SMB's former custodian Kitson Cecile from the penalty spot.
The Lions struggled as they missed the influence of their Kenyan midfielder, Moses Wanyoike, as well as their striker, Alan Louise – both suspended.

SMB extended their lead in the 42nd minute as Stephen Leon cut in from the right to fire past goalie Cecile.

SMB again were menacing in the second period as Tirant broke through, but goalie Cecile denied him in the 53rd minute.

In the 55th minute, Joseph Marcellin eluded the defence but his chip sailed agonisingly wide.
 
The Lions though, roared back in the match in the 64th minute as Michael Hertel latched onto a through ball from captain Achille Hoareau. Hertel’s acrobatic cross fell to Michel Pierre who rifled low past goalie Antoine Dubel to reduce the deficit.

The game opened up then and in the 78th minute, captain Colin Laporte’s shot was charged down by a vigilant defence.

A minute later, The Lions had drawn level from captain Hoareau’s lofted free-kick which lanky defender Johnny Moustache played in Hendrick Labrosse’s path. Labrosse tucked the ball home to make it 2-2.

Labrosse should have stolen all the points for The Lions in the 85th minute as he ran out a threaded pass but he allowed goalie Dubel to parry his shot into corner.
At the death SMB also pressed in search of all three points.

They had a series of corners in injury time but Laporte blazed over a good chance.
Laporte himself admitted that his team’s overconfidence in the second half almost cost them the match after they had enjoyed a good first period.

For his part, coach Jean-Marc Benstrong was pleased with his team’s fighting spirit in the second half which helped them to retrieve a point from an almost lost cause.