Football: Caf Champions League - Ten-man St Michel hold Sundowns to a draw |16 February 2015

Ten-man St Michel came close to upsetting South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns but in the end settled for a 1-1 draw at Stad Linite in the Caf Champions League.

This first leg preliminary round match was expected to be a foregone conclusion as all the pundits had predicted an easy win for the professionals of Mamelodi Sundowns. But St Michel re-wrote the script as they had hoped to frustrate Sundowns who enjoyed plenty of possession and were also helped a lot by the Swaziland official Fakudza Mbongiseni who was over-protective of the South Africans and was quick to send off St Michel’s Leeroy Corallie on the hour mark for what he deemed as a second bookable offence.

Teko Modise should have given Sundowns the lead in the 17th minute but he shot wide Anthony Laffor’s cut back.

On the half hour mark, Khama Biliat’s corner was met by Cuthbert Malajila glancing header but his goal-bound header was cleared on the goal line by Malagasy defender Mohamed Aboudou.

Three minutes later, St Michel, who were under intense pressure, should have broken the deadlock from Trevor Poiret’s long ball forward which Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyago missed. But St Michel’s Malagasy striker Jocelyn Fenosoa hesitated allowing Thabo Nthethe to clear the danger.

In the 36th minute, Katlego Mashego carved open the St Michel defence to set up Laffor but his shot came off the post when it looked easier to score.

Poiret tested goalkeeper Onyango with a dipping volley in the 37th minute which dropped on the roof of the net much to the South Africans’ relief.

In the 41st minute, Laffor sprung St Michel’s offside trap to pull the ball back to Modise but goalkeeper Gino Melanie denied him with a good block.

St Michel’s call for a penalty fell on deaf ears as Nelson Laurence who had surged forward was apparently brought down by Bongani Zunga in the 54th minute but the Swaziland official turned a blind eye.

However, referee Mbongiseni was quick to book Leeroy Corallie for a foul on Modise and he received his marching orders much to the disgust of the St Michel supporters.

St Michel though did not lose their concentration and surprised their more illustrious opponents in the 71st minute as Malagasy Hassan Aly slipped a pass to footballer of the year Gervais Waye-Hive, who hesitated thinking he was offside before placing the ball past goalkeeper Onyango to make it 1-0 much to the delight of the home crowd.

Sensing defeat Sundowns pushed more men forward and in the 75th minute substitute Asavela Mbekile combined with the towering Mane Niang whose shot came off the post.

Sundowns though deservedly levelled matters in the 85th minute after goalkeeper Melanie came off to push out substitute Kudakwashe Mahachi’s cross which fell to Zimbabwean winger Biliat who curled the ball into the net for a 1-1 final score.

St Michel manager Andrew Jean-Louis was really happy with the result when he spoke to Sports Nation after the match.

“I’m really proud of my players’ performance as against the odds and even with 10 men, we managed to hold such a top side,” manager Jean-Louis said.
As for Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane, he also praised St Michel for their gutsy performance.

“It was a good game where we created a lot of chances but failed to convert. But we played a good team who showed a lot of passion and spirit and I congratulate them though we should have won this encounter,” coach Mosimane told Sports Nation.

R. J-L.