Football: President’s Cup-St Michel brush aside Anse Réunion to clinch cup |26 February 2007

St Michel always looked the better side in the game watched by a decent crowd including President James Michel, Minister Vincent Meriton and other senior government officials. Anse Réunion had to re-adjust their squad with their Malagasy contingent alleged to have been sent home and coach Vojo Gardasevic in Kenya, apparently in search of two new players.

Philip Zialor tested Anse Réunion’s goalie Ricky Rose in the fifth minute with an in-swinging free-kick which he saved at the second attempt.

Six minutes later, St Michel exposed Anse Réunion’s defensive frailties as Joel Barbé centred from the right which defender Armantal Ernesta got a touch but Don Anacoura rammed the ball home to give his team a 1-0 lead.

St Michel doubled their lead in the 25th minute as Marcel Labiche set up Zialor who laid the ball into new Malagasy Pascal’s path and he rifled a fierce shot which crashed into the roof of the net to make it 2-0.

Anse Réunion, who looked disorganised and contested every decision that did not go their way, had a half chance on the half-hour mark. Roderick Rose lofted a free-kick to the unmarked Yelvanny Rose, but the burly striker could not direct his header on target.

St Michel should have gone further ahead in the 34th minute as Zialor threaded a superb pass to Pascal who looked odds on to score in a one-on-one situation but goalie Rose blocked his shot.

Anse Réunion were reduced to 10 men in the 42nd minute as Ronny Jacques received his second yellow card from referee Jacques André and the striker’s dismissal infuriated the Anse Réunion bench. Stand-in coach Juel Ah-Kong said afterwards that Jacques should have been awarded a penalty but the official penalised him for a foul on Nibourette and sent him off instead.

Anse Réunion came back in the second period eager to redress the situation and their cause was helped in the 48th minute as Dereck Agathine brought down Yelvanny Rose in the penalty area and the official pointed to the penalty spot. Goalie Ricky Rose sent his counterpart Nelson Sopha the wrong way to reduce the score to 1-2.

The goal boosted Anse Réunion’s morale and in the 55th minute Congolese Dominique Kiyambu saw his shot come off the cross-bar.

St Michel though regained the initiative with the impressive Zialor hitting a post with a trademark free-kick in the 68th minute. Three minutes later, Gary Robert saw his long range effort tipped over.

In the 73rd minute, St Michel went 3-1 up as Anacoura pounced on a poor back pass by Armantal Ernesta and unselfishly squared the ball to Malagasy Pascal who shot into an empty net with Anse Réunion players claiming for offside.

As St Michel pushed forward, they almost conceded a goal in the 78th minute as Andy Ernesta raced through but he shot wide when he should have hit the target.

St Michel put the icing on the cake in the 83rd minute with former The Lions midfielder Steve Stephen curling in a beauty into the far corner, giving goalie Rose no chance for his team’s fourth goal.

St Michel manager Brian Uranie was pleased with the victory and more so with the performance of debutantes Pascal and Stephen.

As for Anse Réunion’s coach Ah-Kong, he said his team’s lack of quality players affected their performance.

President Michel handed over the winner’s cup to St Michel skipper Godfrey Denis, while Seychelles Football Federation chairman Suketu Patel distributed the medals.

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Football: Youth Cup

St Louis Suns United thrash St Francis

SAINT LOUIS SUNS UNITED claimed their first trophy of the season with a comfortable 3-0 victory against St Francis in Saturday’s Youth Cup match at Stad Linite.

Nadin Lucas opened the scoring in the first half. In the 50th minute, Alex Alcindor increased the St Louis-based team’s advantage.
A minute later, Dean Suzette sealed the 3-0 victory.

R. J-L.