Football - Nine-man St Michel win record 13th President’s Cup |23 February 2015

Nine-man St Michel came from behind against Côte d’Or to claim a record 13th President’s Cup in dramatic fashion – a penalty shootout which they won 3-1 for a 4-2 aggregate score at Stad Linite in front of a very large crowd on Saturday.

President James Michel, who is also the patron of the Seychelles Football Federation, was present along with Designated Minister Vincent Meriton to watch this incident-packed encounter and he told Sports Nation after this curtain-raiser match that he really enjoyed the match.

“The match went well and it was very exciting and I feel the best team won in the end,” President Michel told Sports Nation.

As for the match, it was Land Use and Habitat Minister Christian Lionnet who was introduced to the players alongside SFF chairman Elvis Chetty before the kick-off.

St Michel started this match without their Malagasy playmaker Hassan Aly but captain Alex Nibourette was present despite a heavily bandaged head.

However it was Côte d’Or who drew first blood in the 11th minute as Gerald Basset tried his luck with a long range effort which flew narrowly wide.

St Michel responded in the 20th minute from Leeroy Corallie’s through ball to Trevor Vidot who sprung Côte d’Or’s offside trap but he made a meal of his shot.

A minute later, Côte d’Or capitalised on a defensive mistake by St Michel and Dine Suzette released Basset who set up Darwind Rosette but he blazed a good chance wide.

The first half was a very cagey one as both defences stood strong and the only other clear chance in this half fell to St Michel’s Vidot who cut inside his marker but shot straight at goalkeeper Kitson Cecile for a goalless first period.

The second half though was livelier and Côte d’Or should have taken the lead in the 48th minute from Malagasy Jean Tigana’s filtered pass to Suzette but he fired wide a gilt-edge opportunity.

St Michel wasted a decent chance in the 64th minute. Yannick Manou crossed to Malagasy Jocelyn Fenosoa who fed substitute Leeroy Mathiot but he rifled directly into goalkeeper Cecile’s gloves in a one-on-one situation.

In the 66th minute, St Michel’s coach Ralph Jean-Louis was sent to the stands after he quite rightly made his feelings known to referee Emile Fred who had turned a blind eye on two occasions for nasty tackles by Malagasy Patrick Rasaminana on Vidot.

Fourth official Nelson Emile reported the St Michel coach to referee Fred who ordered him off the bench though it was the official who was at fault with his lack of justice in applying the rule of the game.

In the 67th minute, Côte d’Or opened the scoring as Basset linked up with Suzette whose shot sailed over a stranded goalkeeper Melanie for a 1-0 lead as the Côte d’Or fans erupted into celebration.

St Michel raised the tempo and pulled off Vidot and in came Allen Larue in defence alongside Malagasy Leonard Besabotsy while Manou was pushed into central midfield.

St Michel’s never-say-die attitude paid off in the 82nd minute after Côte d’Or’s defender Gervais Saminaden tripped Jocelyn who was in the clear and was only yellow carded as he conceded a free kick.

Jocelyn picked himself up to curl in a beauty into the top corner with goalkeeper Cecile rooted to the spot to level matters at 1-1 as the St Michel supporters raised the roof with their celebration.

In the 87th minute though there were some unsavoury scenes as Manou clashed with substitute Marcus Labiche who had replaced goal scorer Suzette in the 73rd minute. The two players had a go at each other which resulted in a huge mêlée and it took a couple of minutes to restore order.

When the situation was calmed down, referee Emile Fred sent off both Labiche and Manou for fighting which was justified as such behaviour is unacceptable especially in front of such a large crowd and high dignitaries in the grandstand.

The tension was now high on the pitch and St Michel suffered a major setback in the seven added minutes.

As Côte d’Or countered Tigana threaded the ball to former St Francis midfielder Ryan Antat who looked suspiciously offside but assistant referee Steve Marie failed to raise his flag allowing him to race clear and Nibourette brought him down with a tackle.

Referee Emile Fred, who struggled to handle this feisty match, had no hesitation to show captain Nibourette a red card and thus his marching orders to reduce St Michel to nine players.

As for the match, it had to go to extra-time and there was nothing much in the first period but St Michel looked the likelier to score in the second.

In the 118th minute, Malagasy Mohamed Aboudou galloped forward to centre to Jocelyn who forced a great save out of goalkeeper Cecile from point blank range.

A minute later, Jocelyn latched onto the impressive Nelson Laurence’s through ball but was denied by a defiant goalkeeper Cecile as he looked odds on to score and therefore the match had to be decided on penalties – the same as in their last meeting in the Intelvision Cup final.

Côte d’Or were first to take their spot kick and Malagasy Tigana made it 1-0 only for Jocelyn to equalise at 1-1.
Côte d’Or’s Malagasy Patrick, who was lucky to still be on the pitch, then saw his penalty pushed over the crossbar by goalkeeper Melanie whereas 2014 footballer of the year Gervais Waye-Hive tucked his home to make it 2-1 for St Michel.
Goalkeeper Cecile took his team’s third penalty which was saved by Melanie.

St Michel’s Malagasy defender Besabosty shot his spot kick wide but Gervais Saminadin also failed to convert as once again goalkeeper Melanie blocked his shot to become the team’s hero especially after Nelson Laurence coolly slotted home the fourth penalty to give his team a 3-1 victory on penalties and 4-2 final score as the St Michel camp celebrated wildly a hard-fought win to claim a record 13th title.

St Michel manager Andrew Jean-Louis was ecstatic with this victory especially with nine men.

“Once again this match showed our character and also that we have the edge over our main rivals. It seems our team’s name is engraved on this cup. Today (Saturday) I’m very disappointed with the officials but I must congratulate my players who were better than our opponents though we were playing with nine men,” stated St Michel manager Andrew Jean-Louis.

As for the Côte d’Or club president Robert Payet he was as expected dismayed by yet another loss but claimed his team were tired.

“I’m disappointed as we should have won today as we matched our opponents but we looked tired as it seems we over-trained in preparation for our Ethiopian trip. In extra-time, we had to play on with two injured players as we had already made three substitutions. But we are consoled as we have shown that we can play on a par with St Michel,” Mr Payet told Sports Nation.

The cups and medals were presented to the players by President Michel, Minister Meriton and SFF chairman Chetty.

R. J-L.