Football - La Passe Airtel Cup champions |13 October 2014

La Digue-based La Passe are the 2014 Airtel Cup champions as they dethroned St Michel with a 2-1 victory at Stad Linite on Saturday in this fascinating cup final.

A large crowd had descended on Stad Linite to witness this eagerly awaited match-up as St Michel attempted to win a record sixth title while La Passe tried to stop a four-match losing streak to their opponents in cup finals.

The two sets of players were introduced to the guest of honour Designated Minister Vincent Meriton who is also the Minister for Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports, Airtel managing director Amadou Dina whose company is the main sponsor of the competition, and Seychelles Football Federation chairman Elvis Chetty.

La Passe showed their intentions in this match as early as the first minute when Renick Esther latched onto a through ball but his control let him down when he was clean through.

St Michel responded a minute later from Malagasy Hassan Aly’s cross but Leeroy Corallie headed weakly at goalkeeper Dave Mussard.

In the third minute, Renick Esther was in the clear but was brought down by Malagasy Jimmy Radafison’s crude tackle and referee Emile Fred had no hesitation to point to the penalty spot and booked the defender.

La Passe’s Tanzanian midfielder Rashid Mohamed stepped up to send goalkeeper Gino Melanie the wrong way to make it 1-0 to send his team’s supporters into wild celebration.

However, their joy was short-lived as St Michel hit back straight away as they levelled the score from the re-start from Gervais Waye-Hive’s cross which fell to Malagasy Jocelyn Fenosoa who beat goalkeeper Mussard at the near post with a header for a 1-1 score much to the delight of the St Michel fans.

The game was evenly poised now as the tension was high in this cracking ambiance and in the 11th minute, Tanzanian Salum Kinje had a decent chance on the edge of the penalty area but he shot just wide.

La Passe were dangerous each time they played the ball behind the St Michel defence and in the 23rd minute captain Achille Henriette fed the overlapping Collin Esther who in turn threaded a pass to Renick Esther but goalkeeper Melanie rushed out to block his shot.

Just past the half hour mark, Nelson Laurence, who was playing as a striker, failed to punish goalkeeper Mussard’s mistake.

In the 40th minute, Leeroy Corallie saw his well struck volley on the edge of the penalty area sail agonisingly wide.

The winning goal

La Passe regained the lead two minutes later from captain Henriette’s corner kick which dropped to defender Jean-Paul Adela whose shot was parried by goalkeeper Melanie and the rebound fell to Collin Esther who blasted the loose ball into the roof of the net from close range for a 2-1 advantage.

La Passe almost got a third goal in added time from captain Henriette’s trickery to elude two defenders and cut the ball back to Mohamed on the edge of penalty area and his fierce shot produced a good save out of goalkeeper Melanie who tipped the ball into corner.

St Michel came out with all guns blazing in the second half and nearly drew level in the 48th minute from a mistake by La Passe defender Adela who let in Jocelyn but the Malagasy striker’s low shot flew narrowly wide.

Two minutes later, captain Alex Nibourette went on a marauding run forward and was brought down on the edge of penalty area for a free kick which Malagasy Aly drove at goalkeeper Mussard who could only parry away from danger.

It was all St Michel in these opening minutes and on the hour mark, Yannick Manou did brilliantly to play a long pass to Jocelyn who slipped the ball to Laurence who should have hit the target but shot wide.

La Passe were happy to drop back and defend their lead and try to hit St Michel on the counter and in the 63rd minute, Senky Vidot played a ball into space for Renick Esther to chase and he cut inside his marker to fire at goalkeeper Melanie who was equal to the task.

St Michel made a few tactical changes to try to redress the balance as they pulled off Radafison and brought on his countryman Jean-Phillipe Rasoloarimanga in the 72nd minute and a few minutes earlier, Waye-Hive had to be replaced as he was injured.

St Michel had a strong shout for a penalty in the 76th minute when La Passe’s Kenny Nibourette seemed to handle the ball as he tried to chest trap but referee Emile Fred, who had a good game in this action-packed final, was not convinced it was worth a penalty much to the annoyance of the St Michel supporters.

In the 81st minute, La Passe had the ball in the net from captain Henriette’s teasing free kick which Collin Esther bundled over the line but it was quite rightly ruled out for offside by assistant referee Gerald Pool.

St Michel had a gilt-edge opportunity in the 83rd minute from Aly’s cross at the near post which Jean-Philippe got to but directed it into the side-netting.

In the 86th minute, goalkeeper Mussard punted a long ball forward and Mohamed flicked it on to captain Henriette but St Michel defender Joel Barbé tried to clear the ball which flew over the advancing goalkeeper Melanie and hit the underside of the bar. La Passe claimed the ball had crossed the goal-line but the official waved play on as St Michel survived a big scare.

St Michel’s last chance to equalise came in the 88th minute as Jocelyn wriggled his way into the penalty area to set up Jean-Philippe who looked offside but was not given and he also fired wide.

La Passe held on to beat St Michel and win their second Airtel Cup which drew jubilant scenes from their travelling supporters who helped create a great atmosphere and colour in this exciting final.

La Passe coach Bruno Saindini was very happy as he savoured his first cup success as coach.

“It was a balanced match and it was a nice feeling to win as it is the reward for all the hard work we have put in training in the last two days and we have also worked six years without a title but we have not been discouraged but rather we have persevered and today we have achieved success and I’m very happy and hope we can build on this win to try to do well in the remaining competitions,” coach Saindini told Sport Nation.

As for St Michel manager Andrew Jean-Louis, he was a bit disappointed but also praised their opponents.
“We did not play well in the first half and it looks like we lost this match in this half as we were dominant in the second period and had lots of possession but we could not score. So we are a bit disappointed as it was a good final but I would like to congratulate La Passe and as for us, we will now focus on the remaining competitions especially the league,” manager Jean-Louis said.

The cups and medals were presented to the two teams by Minister Meriton, Mr Dina and Mr Chetty.
Sports Nation would like to congratulate La Passe on their Airtel Cup triumph.

R. J-L.