Football: Barclays League Division One-Ten-man St Louis Suns overcome nine-man La Passe |29 September 2008

St Louis Suns v La Passe

This clash between La Passe and St Louis Suns will be remembered for the number of cards flourished by referee Jean-Claude Labrosse who sent off three players and issued a massive 11 yellow cards.

There was a lot at stake for these two teams as defeat for either would have dented their slim hopes of catching runaway leaders St Michel.

La Passe drew first blood as early as the first minute when St Louis Suns’ captain Jonathan Bibi misjudged a long ball allowing Norris Ladouce to sneak in behind him but goalie Eugene Valentin was quick off his line to clear the danger.

La Passe’s defender Etienne Fanchette was the first player to be sent off in the 12th minute. Booked earlier for an off-the-ball incident with St Louis Suns’ new Malagasy recruit Jean Del’Or Carolus Tsaralaza, Fanchette was again involved in a similar incident. He clattered into Trevor Poiret on the bye-line leaving the St Louis Suns’ winger on the floor and assistant referee Jossy Cedras flagged for the referee’s attention.  After consulting his assistant, referee Labrosse brandished a second yellow card and Fanchette was off despite his protest of innocence.

In the 16th minute, St Louis Suns created a good opening as Jones Joubert centred to Poiret who linked up with Congolese striker Jonathan Mbanze. The latter picked out Jean Del’Or whose header came off a post to Poiret who scored in an empty net but the goal was disallowed for offside.

La Passe also had a half chance in the 28th minute from Verna Rose’s free-kick which was met by Malagasy Eric Rajaobery’s back header which flew agonisingly wide of goalie Valentin’s left post.

Goal-scoring opportunities were very few in a very poor first half and St Louis Suns Denis Barbé produced a rare moment of brilliance in the 32nd minute as he weaved his way forward but again his shot was disappointing as it was too weak to trouble goalie Vincent Euphrasie.

Parity was restored in the match in the 35th minute as St Louis Suns were also reduced to 10 men when Malagasy Jimmy Radafison was shown his second yellow card for a reckless tackle on compatriot Eric Rajaobery after he had been booked few minutes earlier for a similar tackle on the same player.

The second half did not improve much but at least there were goals. In the 56th minute, Jean Del’Or linked up with Joubert who in good position could not produce a decent cross with several players waiting.

La Passe suffered further misery in the 70th minute when Jean-Paul Adela was shown his second yellow and expulsed following a crude tackle on Barbé. La Passe players and officials were furious with the officials but could do little to redress the situation.

As the commotion died down, La Passe almost stole the lead in the 71st minute as Malagasy Asman Abdou broke clear but blazed his shot wide when he should have hit the target.
St Louis Suns finally broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute. Mbanze met Barbé’s floated free-kick with a glancing header which sailed into the bottom far corner (1-0).
Five minutes later, St Louis Suns almost added a second from Jean Del’Or’s cross but goalie Euphrasie just managed to deflect the ball from Mbanze’s path.

St Louis Suns sealed the win in the 84th minute through substitute Yannick Charlette who let fly with a long range shot which dipped into the net to beat Euphrasie to make it 2-0.

At the end St Louis Suns’ coach Marc Mathiot was just happy his team managed to collect the three points.

Coach Mathiot added that his team must aim to win all their remaining matches and noted that the league race is not over.

Anse Réunion in 3-3 draw with LightStars

Anse Réunion came from 2-0 down to secure a 3-3 home draw on Saturday against Praslin side LightStars.

LightStars took the lead through Jerry Bristol in the 12th minute and two minutes later Evans Esther increased their lead to 2-0. 

The boys of coach Vojo Gardasevic fought back and reduced the arrears through Kenyan defender Zablon Amanaka in the 20th minute and Roderick Rose made it 2-2 in the 28th minute.

In the second half, Anse Réunion took the lead in the 63rd minute through Yelvanny Rose who beat goalie Denis Fideria for a 3-2 score.

When Anse Réunion thought they had secured the three points, LightStars though came back strongly and secured a point late in the match through Rwandan Magnifique Ndikumana who scored in the 78th minute to leave the final score at 3-3.
 
Plaisance boost survival chances

Bottom-club Plaisance boosted their survival chances with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over their closest rivals Foresters at Stad Linite on Friday.

Plaisance came from behind to register a morale-boosting win which puts them level on points with Foresters who nonetheless have a better goal difference.

Ironically, Foresters should have had this match secured early in the first half as they dominated proceedings but lacked the inspiration of Alpha Baldé to overcome Plaisance.

In the third minute, Foresters created a decent opening as Jed Padayachy released Aaron Jean who flicked a pass to Dave Max in acres of space but his cross was disappointing with three teammates waiting to convert.

Plaisance responded in the 14th minute from Eddy Samedi’s free-kick and Steve Louis-Marie grazed the bar with a header.

Two minutes later, Foresters went agonizingly close as Denis Zialor’s superb cross sent Jean through but Plaisance’s goalie Peter Toule was quick off his line to clear the danger.

In the 19th minute, Louis-Marie returned the favour to Samedi as his chipped pass beat Foresters’ offside trap but the latter’s header was saved by goalkeeper Julio Toulon at the second attempt.

Eleven minutes later, Samedi tested Toulon with a long range strike which he tipped over the crossbar.

On the half-hour mark, Foresters broke the deadlock as Colin Marie linked up with Zialor who filtered a beautiful pass to Jean who beat the advancing Toule to give his team a 1-0 lead.

Foresters’ lead was short-lived in the 36th minute Jason Fred tripped Louis-Marie in full flight in the penalty area and referee Jourdan Benstrong pointed to the penalty spot. Malagasy defender Rhalida stepped up to blast the ball past Toulon for a 1-1 score at half-time.

Plaisance looked the more hungry side as Foresters could not find their rhythm early in the second half and conceded another goal through a lapse of concentration. With Norvil Gaspard lying on the pitch injured and Steve Mathiot receiving treatment on the side-line, Plaisance pushed forward as Andy Mougal twisted and turned on the bye-line before picking out Samedi who controlled the ball in the box to drill it past Toulon for a 2-1 52nd minute lead.

Foresters had to react as they wanted to avoid defeat. In the 70th minute, substitute Leeroy Gomme floated a corner to Mathiot at the far post but he could not direct his header on target.

Two minutes later at the other end, Jeffrey Thomas threaded a pass to Samedi who rounded Toulon but his cut back was cleared with Mougal lurking.

Both teams threw everything in attack to try and influence the result and in the 75th minute, goalie Toule spilled Gomme’s cross but there was no one to punish the Plaisance goalkeeper.

In the 82nd minute, Mougal picked up a long ball from defence and fired from the edge of the penalty area but Toulon was equal to the task.

Thomas also threatened to increase Plaisance’s lead in 89th minute as he lobbed defender Jason Fred but in the clear his shot lacked sting to trouble Toulon.

Foresters had a gilt-edge opportunity to level matters with the last kick of the game as substitute Francis Nourrice set up Gomme with a chipped pass but his lob flew inches wide of the crossbar.

Plaisance’s coach Patrick Pool was relieved at the end as he felt that his team had to win to improve their slim chances of survival. Coach Pool added that this victory will boost morale in their camp as they try to fend off automatic relegation.

R. J-L.