Football: Airtel Cup-La Passe bounce back, St Louis Suns scrape through, St Michel still unbeaten |01 June 2009

On Friday, St Michel registered their fifth victory to maintain their unbeaten run.

St Michel – Foresters

St Michel once again had re-shuffled their pack and they met a very rugged Foresters side who were eager to stop them in their stride.
Malagasy Pascal should have opened the scoring in the 23rd minute from substitute Alfredo Manou’s cross but goalie Oscar Constance saved the danger.

Three minutes later, St Michel took the lead as Foresters defender Jason Fred was caught in possession by Leeroy Corallie and he was pulled down in the melée.  Referee Jourdan Benstrong was right to point to the spot.

Corallie took the spot kick to beat goalie Oscar Constance for a 1-0 lead.
In the 36th minute, Leeroy Gomme tested St Michel goalie Jerome Dingwall who was equal to the test.

St Michel though were the dominant side and in the 43rd minute, Malagasy Nestor Benahovy let fly a long range effort which was pushed out by goalie Constance.

On the stroke of half time, St Michel were awarded a second penalty as Foreters defender Derick Figaro bundled over Corallie who latched onto Pascal’s through ball.

Corallie, for the second time, shot past goalie Constance to make it 2-0.
Foresters though reduced the deficit in the 55th minute through defender Derick Figaro who made it 2-1.

Two minutes later, St Michel thought they had stretched their lead as Pascal handed Manou’s cross into the net but referee Benstrong ruled out his goal for an infringement.

Foresters went close to level matters in the 68th minute from a counter attack but Dave Max’s volley was well saved by goalie Dingwall.

Five minutes later Max missed a sitter from Ian Mellie’ superb cross.
St Michel stretched their advantage in the 77th minute as Malagasy Nestor Benahovy’s free kick was met by Pascal whose weak header still filtered through goalie Constance’s fingers to make it 3-1.

Both teams had chances to add to the score line but the score remained, helping St Michel to their fifth victory in the Airtel Cup.

St Louis Suns leave it late

St Louis Suns left it late against Northern Dynamo to win 2-1 at Stad Linite on Saturday.

St Louis Suns were the dominant side but almost gifted Dynamo a goal in the eighth minute from Steven Constance’s back pass which let in Malagasy Asman Todisoa who was put off by goalie Eugene Valentin.

Dynamo took the lead somewhat controversially in the 18th minute. The boys of coach Nollin took a throw-in in the wrong place but play was allowed to go on and Damien Tamboo played a long ball into the St Louis Suns penalty area. Defender Steven Constance failed to clear allowing Darrel Damoo to set up Valerio Derothe who buried his shot into the roof of the net for a 1-0 lead.

The goal spurred St Louis Suns on and in the 29th minute, Malagasy captain Jimmy Radafison bore forward and his cross was just missed by Mervin Mathiot.

St Louis Suns levelled matters in the 40th minute as Yannick Charlette began the move to release Mervin Mathiot who centred to Denis Barbe in the box. The latter bundled the ball over the line for a 1-1 half-time score.

St Louis Suns had numerous chances to take the lead and in the 50th minute, Barbé played a glorious ball to Mathiot who was in the clear but he shot wide.

In the second period St Louis Suns always had the measure of Dynamo but were almost caught with Damien Tamboo’s header from Evans Telemaque’s cross which flew agonisingly wide.

In the 55th minute, Jonathan Bibi, playing in midfield, opened up Dynamo with his defence splitting pass to Barbé who blazed wide.

Five minutes later, Mathiot released Andy Mougal who shot across goal.
St Louis Suns though got a lucky break in the 88th minute as substitute Wilnes Brutus stole the ball from Steven Henriette to back-heel to another substitute Trevor Poitret whose teasing cross was volleyed home by Charlette to seal St Louis Suns 2-1 win.

La Passe thrash Lightstars

La Passe ensured qualification to the next phase with a convincing 6-0 victory over Lightstars on Praslin to bounce back in style.
Malagasy Bruno Saindini opened the scoring in the first half for a 1-0 lead.

His colleague Eric Rajaobery saw his shot deflect off goalie Basil Esther to make it 2-0.

Asman Abdou made it 3-0 before halftime.

Rajaobery completed his brace in the second period.
Lightstars captain Bertrand Esther scored an own goal to make it 6-0 victory.

Anse Reunion beat nine-man S.M.B

S.M.B got off to the perfect start in this decisive match on La Digue as Deron Marcel opened the scoring to make it 1-0.
However Malagasy Milison Niasere leveled matters in the second period to make it 1-1.

S.M.B restored their lead through Evans Samedi before referee Gonzague Boniface decided to send off two S.M.B players namely Deron Marcel and James Bill to hand the initiative to Anse Reunion.

Anse Reunion equalised through an S.M.B. own goal for a 2-2 score before Malagasy Milison sealed the victory for his team for a 3-2 triumph which puts them in a good position to qualify for the next round.

R.J.L.