Football: Airtel Cup-Light Stars salvage draw with Sunshine, La Passe outgun Anse Réunion |17 March 2006

It was only Light Stars’ second point but it will help boost their morale in their tough test against St Michel Saturday March 18.

Light Stars were not overawed in this match and they drew first blood in the 13th minute when Hugh Jeanne fired a left foot shot straight at Sunshine’s goalie Philip Bathin.

Sunshine responded six minutes later as captain Denis Barbé latched onto a through pass but his attempted lob of goalie Paul Ah-kong dropped on the roof of the net.

The match was fairly balanced and Light Stars again threatened in the 26th minute from Rwandan Massoud Irambona’s deep cross but goalie Bathin just managed to tip the ball off Colin Esther’s diving header.

In the 35th minute, Sunshine were caught out in defence and in a three-on-one situation Darren Omath shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

Sunshine made Light Stars pay two minutes later in one of the best moves of the first half. Barbé started it all as he picked up a loose ball and sprayed it out to the overlapping Steven Constance whose first-time cross was side-footed in Ah-kong’s goal by Nerrick Athanase to give his team the lead.

Light Stars almost drew level in the 43rd minute as Irambona fed Esther whose shot was well stopped.

Sunshine started in top gear in the second half and in the 52nd minute Athanase stole the ball from a defender to square to Ronny Rose but he missed a gaping goal.

In the 56th minute, Omath capitalised on a Sunshine defensive error to roll the ball back to Hugh Jeanne whose fierce drive flew narrowly wide.

Sunshine stretched their lead a minute later as Rose linked up with Athanase whose initial shot was blocked by goalie Ah-kong. The loose ball was played again in the box by Rose and Athanase got a second bite of the cherry to complete his brace.

Athanase almost completed his hat-trick a minute later as he received a pass from Barbé but goalie Ah-kong produced a great reaction save to deny him.

Light Stars rode their luck and in the 62nd minute they reduced the deficit from a neat move involving the impressive Joel Esther and Jeanne for substitute Antonio Cushion to drill the ball past a baffled ‘keeper Bathin.

Sunshine suddenly looked disorganised in defence and in the 65th minute, Omath missed the target after some good exchange of passes involving Joel Esther and Cushion.

Light Stars duly levelled matters in the 84th minute with a fantastic strike by Irambona. Referee Gerald Gonthier awarded Light Stars a free-kick after Michel Songoire had blocked Joel Esther’s penetrating run. Irambona let fly a cracker which hit the back of the net for a 2-2 score.

Light Stars’ acting coach Pierre Philoé was happy that his team had managed to secure a draw after trailing by two goals.

As for Sunshine’s manager Serge Rouillon, he was rather disappointed that his team threw away a two-goal lead.

La Passe outgun Anse Réunion

On La Digue, defending Sunkiss’d division one League champions La Passe brushed aside Anse Réunion’s challenge on a 2-0 score in a rare mid-week match.

It was La Passe’s third victory in as many matches and it must have been a sweet one, coming against their former Yugoslav coach Vojo Gardasevic who was taking charge of his first match as Anse Réunion coach.

Melvin Uranie opened the score for La Passe early in the first half and Jude Ladouce extended their advantage before the break.

Despite having Tanzanian striker Rashid Mohamed sent off for a foul on Anse Réunion’s goalkeeper Ricky Rose, La Passe held on for an important win to lead group A with nine points.

R. J-L.