Football: Airtel Cup-Barra’s brace sees off Northern Dynamo |27 February 2007
Barra, who was making his return after two seasons with St Michel, did not take long to
Northern Dynamo never got going in the first period, missing coach Cliff Nolin who is believed to be in Spain attending a coaching course.
Red Star, who deployed a three-man defence with Harry Libanotis back after spells with St Michel and The Lions, controlled proceedings with Malagasy Rene Raberadne dictating the game. In the 26th minute, his fierce drive forced goalie Monnaie to put the ball into corner.
Two minutes later, a sweeping move from defence was carried forward by the lively Barra who released Wilnes Brutus whose shot was pushed into corner. From the resulting corner lofted by Bernard St Ange, Brutus’ bicycle kick was headed onto a post by Malagasy Taly before the ball was cleared.
On the stroke of half-time, Taly latched on to a poor clearance to link up with Brutus who failed to score.
Northern Dynamo looked a better side in the second period and in the 49th minute defender Freminot had to clear under pressure from Jules Désir.
In the 52nd minute, Northern Dynamo again threatened as Francis Moumou played a short corner to Evans Télémaque who rifled at goalie Andrew Valentin who made a meal of the shot, but luckily for him the ball flew over the bar.
Red Star killed off the contest in the 55th minute as Barra set up Taly who rounded goalie Monnaie to make it 2-0.
Just past the hour mark, Northern Dynamo’s captain Marius Bamboche was lucky not to be sent off by referee Gonzague Boniface as he pulled back Barra who had out-sprinted him.
Having regained the initiative, Red Star continued to push forward and in the 75th minute, Northern Dynamo’s goalie Monnaie had to be quick off his line to thwart the threat posed by Barra.
In the 81st minute, Taly should have hit the target after Brutus had left two defenders in his wake to cut the ball back to him but he shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
It was Barra who rounded off the scoring in the 85th minute after Brutus had tormented the Northern Dynamo defence to unselfishly lay the ball to his strike partner who rammed it home from close range for an emphatic 3-0 victory.
Red Star coach Mosa was very pleased with his team’s showing especially in the first half.
R. J-L.