Football: Tri-Nation Tournament-Seychelles’ Pirates make bright start |30 June 2006

The defeat was the second for Mauritius and it means that they will finish at the bottom of the three-team standings in the tournament organised to commemorate the country’s 30th anniversary of Independence.

Minister Designate Danny Faure and Sports Minister Sylvette Pool were among the small crowd who came to cheer The Pirates to victory.

The local side drew first blood in the second minute as Robert Suzette floated in a free-kick but Yelvanny Rose’s weak header did not trouble Mauritius’ goalie Orwin Castel.

In the seventh minute, the Mauritians also went close following a Denis Belle mistake but Giovanny Jeannot’s shot lacked the sting to beat Seychelles’ goalie and captain Nelson Sopha.

Midway in this first half, Jimmy Cundasami chipped a ball in the path of Jeannot but Seychelles’ defender Jonathan Bibi produced a great block to deny the Mauritian striker.

In the 44th minute, Jones Joubert played a throw-in to Rose whose overhead pass fell on Wilnes Brutus’ head but his goal-bound header was cleared on the goal-line by Frederick Chavry.

The Pirates’ coach Raoul Shungu made two substitutions at the start of the second half, bringing on Henny Dufresne for Bernard St Ange and Jude Ladouce for Suzette.

Two minutes later, the Pirates delighted the crowd as they took the lead. Defender Joubert pushed forward and rifled a shot which came off the crossbar and Brutus was on hand to tap home the loose ball to make it 1-0.

The Mauritians upped the tempo in search of the equaliser and they came close in the 57th minute. Cundasami released substitute Tony François but he shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Two minutes later, François found himself in the clear as he pounced on a defensive error but his shot was well saved by goalie Sopha.

In the 68th minute, substitute Fabrice Pauline curled a wicked shot but goalie Sopha was alert to the danger but he hit his head against the left post and passed out for a short while and was later transported to Victoria Hospital suffering from concussion.

The Pirates sealed the win in the 90th minute as Ladouce’s lofted free-kick was met by Belle’s towering header and the ball crashed into the roof of the Mauritius net.

In injury time, the Mauritians reduced the deficit as Pauline drove a corner to the unmarked Cyril Moorgine whose powerful header flashed into the net past replacement goalie Ricky Rose.
The Pirates’ coach Shungu was delighted with the victory and said:

“It was a good debut win and this will be a morale booster for the team and it will help in our preparation for the African Nations Cup qualifiers.”

As for Mauritius coach France L’Aiguille, he congratulated the local team though he bemoaned his striker for their wayward finishing which cost them the game.

This afternoon (Friday June 30), The Pirates meet the Tanzania selection with both teams unbeaten and this will surely be the decider.