Football: First Division League-Anse Réunion champions |02 October 2006

St Michel, who had led the league for many months, had a slender one-point lead over the boys of coach Vojo Gardasevic. Therefore, the onus was always on Anse Réunion to attack as they needed all three points. But they were very patient and never lost their composure as they took their time to turn the table on St Michel.

Both teams made a cagey start in this vital match with Anse Réunion’s Roderick Rose testing goalie Nelson Sopha with a teasing cross in the 12th minute. The ‘keeper tipped the ball over.
St Michel raised their game in the last 15 minutes of the half. In the 31st minute, Philip Zialor’s driving free-kick was parried by goalie Ricky Rose and five minutes later, Malagasy Leonni Nastinan shot wide a well-worked move.

Anse Réunion were under pressure and on the stroke of half-time Lorenzo Mathiot outpaced Andy Ernesta who pulled him down on the edge of the penalty area earning himself a yellow card from referee Jean-Claude Labrosse.

St Michel had the edge in the early stages of the second half. In the 48th minute, Don Anacoura released Zialor who capitalised on a rare mistake by the impressive Armantal Ernesta but goalie Rose raced out of his goal to save the danger.

Two minutes later, Anacoura burst through but was stopped in his stride by Etienne Fanchette and in the 53rd minute, Henny Dufresne curled a well-placed free-kick just wide.

Anse Réunion sensed the pressure and decided to bring on Congolese Dominique Kiyambu for the ineffective Malagasy Firinga Fahidanny. In the 59th minute, Malagasy Jocelyn chipped a pass to Yelvanny Rose who headed narrowly wide.

Anse Réunion began to attack and in the 77th minute, they thought they should have been awarded a penalty as Yelvanny Rose’s shot seemed to come off the hand of a defender but referee Labrosse was not convinced.

A minute later, Anse Réunion stunned St Michel. Armantal Ernesta filtered a pass to Yelvanny Rose in acres of space. The national team striker spotted goalie Sopha coming off his line and he therefore lobbed the St Michel custodian to open the score much to the delight of his fans and colleagues but also got injured in the process as Neddy Rose’s desperate tackle caught him.

Trailing, St Michel had no choice but to throw everything in attack. In the 84th minute in a mêlée in the Anse Reunion penalty area, Zialor’s shot was blocked by goalie Rose as the La Digue team held on. But St Michel could not break down a well-disciplined defence as coach Vojo made sure his team kept calm as he claimed his third league title in local football.
There were massive celebrations after the final whistle as Anse Réunion players and their supporters cherished their finest hour.

Coach Vojo was even hoisted onto a shoulder as the players recognised his influence on a team who had struggled in the Airtel Cup before his arrival. He completely transformed the team in the league.

Vojo himself was so emotional that he was lost for words but he expressed his great satisfaction from being underdogs to winning the title. He congratulated his players who showed a lot determination to attain such a feat.

As for St Michel’s manager Brian Uranie, he was philosophical in defeat as he felt that his team had been unlucky to lose to Anse Réunion. But he was also full of praise for their opponents.

In other matches played during the weekend, St Louis drew 0-0 with Light Stars on Praslin, whilst Red Star defeated La Passe on La Digue thanks to a first half strike by Wilnes Brutus. Last Friday, SMB and Northern Dynamo shared the points in a goalless draw.

R. J-L.