Football: Barclays League Division One-St Michel overcome nine-man LightStars |25 August 2008
On La Digue the same day, second-placed La Passe edged Foresters 3-2 and on Friday, St Louis Suns bounced back with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Anse Réunion.
St Michel thump LightStars
The match was an evenly affair in the first half though St Michel were more ruthless in their 
The first real opportunity fell to St Michel’s Alex Nibourette in the 10th minute from Malagasy Pascal’s cross but the ball fell on his weaker right foot and he blazed it over the cross-bar.
Four minutes later, LightStars responded after some good work by Colin Esther who eluded a couple of defenders to thread a pass to Congolese Magnifique Ndikumana. He rounded St Michel’s goalie Nelson Sopha but his shot was cleared on the goal-line by a defender as far as Seychelles striker Renick Esther who failed to lob it into the net.
In the 17th minute, St Michel went even closer from Malagasy Nestor Benahovy’s corner which dropped invitingly to Philip Zialor whose free header crashed against the cross-bar before being cleared.
Two minutes later, St Michel took the lead. A glorious pass by Zialor from his own half set Pascal for a free run and he easily beat LightStars’ goalie Denis Fideria.
In the 21st minute, Renick Esther had a decent chance to test goalie Sopha from Shaun Barbé’s delightful centre but his control let him down in a good scoring position.
In the 26th minute, St Michel produced a very good move involving Pascal, Zialor and Don Anacoura to release Nibourette who flashed his shot across goal.
In the 28th minute, Benahovy filtered a pass to colleague Pascal who went past a defender to fire into the roof of the net to make it 2-0.
Just past the half hour mark, LightStars threatened as Hugh Jeanne played a quick free-kick to Renick Esther who shot straight at goalie Sopha.
In the 40th minute, Anacoura stole the ball from defender Perry Nibourette to center to Zialor but goalie Fideria produced a point-blank save to deny the St Michel striker.
On the stroke of half-time, Renick Esther chased a long ball and won a tussle with Nigel Freminot but his goal-bound shot was cleared by goalie Sopha’s outstretched legs.
St Michel killed off the contest in the second half (49th minute) as Anacoura picked out Zialor at the far post for an easy tap-in past goalie Fideria for a 3-0 lead.
LightStars though continued to attack and in the 59th minute goalie Sopha saved a stinging shot from Colin Esther. In the 70th minute, Nibourette broke clear but he rifled his shot over the cross-bar.
Three minutes later, St Michel opened up LightStars’ defence as Benahovy linked up with overlapping captain Godfrey Denis who squared to Zialor who failed to hit the target.
In the 75th minute, Senky Vidot was shown his second yellow card and was eventually sent off by referee Gonzague Boniface. The LightStars player said he was provoked by the official to react which resulted in an exchange of words and the official used his authority to send off the player.
In the 77th minute, Zialor tested Fideria with a brilliant curling shot which the ‘keeper tipped over.
St Michel completed the scoring in the 79th minute as Pascal skipped a couple of defenders to set up Anacoura who appeared offside. The latter scored to make it 4-0.
In the 84th minute, LightStars’ Perry Nibourette was shown a straight red card by referee Boniface for dissent.
St Michel almost added a fifth goal in injury time from Nibourette’s cross to substitute Michel Ange Tall but goalie Fideria again produced a good save to deny the former SMB striker.
St Michel’s manager Brian Uranie was pleased with the result which has kept his team on course to retain their title.
As for LightStars’ coach James Barra, he was very disappointed with the level of officiating which he said affected his team.
St Louis Suns bounce back
St Louis Suns came from behind to defeat La Digue-based Anse Réunion 2-1 on Friday at Stad Linite.
Anse Réunion, who are having one of their worst seasons, took the lead in the 13th minute as Malagasy Jocelyn released compatriot Milison Yiasere who shot past goalie Eugene Valentin.
Seven minutes later, St Louis Suns duly drew level. Denis Barbé sent a free-kick inside Anse Réunion’s penalty area and Mbanze’s flying header beat goalie Rose.
St Louis Suns upped the tempo and in the 39th minute defender Rondy Onezime bore forward to centre in a crowded box and the ball was cleared as far as Barbé who shot wide.
A minute later, Mbanze completed his brace as he latched onto a through ball to beat a hesitant Anse Réunion defence who looked for offside. He rounded goalie Rose to then shoot into the net despite Kenyan defender Zablon Amanaka’s desperate attempt to clear the danger.
Anse Réunion almost drew level in the 43rd minute as Brian Dorby threaded a pass to Milison who beat goalie Valentin but defender Ronny Hoareau recovered in time to clear the goal-bound shot.
Anse Réunion came all out in the second half to redress the balance and in the 57th minute Dorby latched onto a through pass to elude a couple of defenders but goalie Valentin produced a brave save to deny him.
On the hour mark, Dorby floated a corner to Armantal Ernesta whose towering header was pushed out by goalie Valentin.
In the 63rd minute, Milison could not direct his header on target from Dorby’s free-kick.
St Louis Suns rode the storm and then began to go on the offensive. In the 83rd minute, Trevor Poiret pounced on a loose ball but his shot was charged down.
In the 84th minute, substitute Mervin Mathiot went on a mazy run but was denied by a last-ditch tackle.
In injury time, Congolese Freddy Andosango did well to centre to Poiret who should have hit the target with a free header but shot in the side-netting as his team held on for an important win.
La Passe edge Foresters
La Digue-based La Passe held on to edge Foresters to maintain second place in the standings
La Passe took a 3-0 half-time lead as Malagasy Eric Rajaobery and Norris Ladouce with a brace gave them a comfortable lead.
Foresters got back into the match by narrowing the score to 2-3 with two goals by Roland Antat and Denis Zialor in the second period.
R. J-L.