Football: Airtel Cup-Henriette saves St Louis Suns from defeat |05 March 2007

At Stad Linite, SMB showed that they could be one of the top teams this season with the return of striker Che Dorasamy and the acquisition of top goalkeeper Joel Lesperance from Red Star.

The boys of coach Roger Labonté surprised the newly formed St Louis Suns United team in the ninth as Stephen Léon opened the score.

In the 15th minute, Dorasamy combined superbly with Colin Laporte to force a good save out of St Louis Suns’ goalie Vincent Euphrasie.

SMB continued to dominate a disorganised St Louis Suns and in the 21st minute, Dorasamy almost scored an intelligent goal as he spotted goalie Euphrasie way off his line but his lob sailed narrowly wide.

Seven minutes later, Léon exchanged passes with Roddy César before shooting at Euphrasie who did well to stop the danger.

Under pressure, St Louis Suns sent on Alpha Baldé who helped improved his team’s performance. In the 33rd minute, Eddie Bistoé’s long range shot flew narrowly wide and two minutes later, Baldé controlled the ball superbly but could not hit the target.

St Louis Suns’ play improved in the second half and in the 62nd minute, Don Laramé linked up with substitute Achille Henriette who headed just wide.

Two minutes later, Baldé’s in-swinging free-kick created confusion in the SMB penalty area but St Louis Suns’ defender Ted Esther could not shoot the loose ball home.

St Louis Suns kept attacking and a minute later, captain Denis Barbé released Trevor Poiret who was in the clear but SMB’s goalie Lesperance blocked the danger.

St Louis Suns’ pressure paid off in the 76th minute as Baldé sent a cross-field pass to substitute Jones Joubert whose teasing cross was latched on to by Henriette who fired low to level matters.

In the 83rd minute, the boys of coach Marc Mathiot came close to taking the lead. Joubert’s cut back pass was allowed to run to Poiret who, in a good scoring position, fired off target.

SMB almost caught their opponents on the break in the 84th minute as Dorasamy opened their defence but his shot was parried by goalie Euphrasie.

In the 87th minute, new SMB recruit Joel Esther’s long ball dropped nicely to substitute Michel Ange Tall but he failed to lob the advancing goalie Euphrasie.

St Louis Suns’ coach Mathiot told Sports Nation after the match that their tactics did not work in the first half but was happy with their second half showing.

La Passe v Foresters

Last year’s second division winners Foresters started brightly in their 1-2 defeat to La Passe on La Digue.

They opened the scoring through Andrew Figaro, but La Passe, who played most of the match with 10 men as Gary Radegonde was sent off by referee Wesson Joubert for rough play, equalised through former St Louis midfielder Fabien Cadeau in the first half.

Malagasy Bruno Saindini assured all three points for his team with a penalty late in the match.

Light Stars v Anse Réunion

Anse Réunion won 3-1 at the Baie Ste Anne Praslin playing field to inflict a second defeat in four days on Light Stars who had lost their first match on a 1-6 score to St Michel.

Coach Vojo was back on the substitutes’ bench but saw his team trail as Armantal Ernesta scored in his own goal.

Goalkeeper Ricky Rose though equalised for Anse Réunion from the penalty spot after a foul committed by Light Stars’ Perry Nibourette.

His brother, Yelvanny Rose, added a second goal before half-time. The same Yelvanny Rose sealed his team’s 3-1 victory with his second goal in the second half.

R. J-L.