Football: Airtel Cup-La Passe thrash St Louis Suns, Taly’s brace secures Red Star, SMB gets controversial win |19 March 2007
Last Friday at Stad Linite, SMB scored after being awarded a controversial penalty and went on to get their first win in the Airtel Cup.
Anse Réunion v Red Star
Defending First Division League champions Anse Réunion fielded their three Kenyan recruits, namely former St Michel defender Zablon Amanaka, former St Louis midfielder Silas Gwada Abuori and striker Patrick Awuor Nafukho.
Anse Réunion complained about the incident but the officials were convinced that Taly had trapped the ball legitimately.
Five minutes later, Red Star threatened again as Wilnes Brutus’ cross was half-cleared to Bernard St Ange whose fierce drive was charged down.
In the 29th minute, Red Star’s defender Harry Libanotis gave the ball away to Silas who delayed his shot and was crowded out.
Red Star always looked dangerous when they attacked and in the 37th minute captain Nigel Freminot threaded a pass to Monthy as Anse Réunion’s defence pushed up for offside. Monthy though could not lob the advancing goalie Rose.
Anse Réunion levelled matters in the 41st minute when there appeared to be no danger from Nichol Gabriel’s deep cross but Red Star’s defence did not clear the ball and Kenyan Patrick sneaked in at the back post to half volley it past goalie Patrick Asba.
Anse Réunion went ahead two minutes later as Silas cut inside from the left to square the ball to his colleague Patrick whose shot took a wicked deflection which completely wrong-footed goalie Asba for a 2-1 lead at the break.
Red Star came out for the second period with all guns blazing and in the 49th minute, Malagasy Guy Raberante forced a good save out of goalie Rose with a long range free-kick.
Substitute Vincent Volcère should have done better with a glorious chance in the 57th minute but he chose the wrong option and shot wide.
Anse Réunion had a decent chance on a rare attack in the 64th minute but Yelvanny Rose, in the clear, could not control the ball to fluff a great chance.
Red Star though continued to pin Anse Réunion in their own half and Brutus saw his fierce strike saved by goalie Rose.
Anse Réunion, who were under intense pressure, suffered a major setback as Andy Ernesta was sent off for swearing at assistant referee Monthy.
Red Star’s endeavour paid off in the 84th minute as Brutus rifled at goalie Rose who parried the ball and Taly was on hand to blast home the rebound for a deserved equaliser (2-2).
In the 87th minute, St Ange almost secured all three points for Red Star with a powerful long range strike which was too hot for goalie Rose to handle.
Anse Réunion though survived to claim a point in a match during which they had been dominated for long period.
Red Star’s coach Mosa was satisfied with his team’s fighting spirit.
La Passe v St Louis Suns
La Passe inflicted a heavy 3-0 defeat on St Louis Suns on La Digue on Saturday.
The two teams played a scoreless first half, but La Passe went ahead through Malagasy Eric Rajaobery early in the second period.
Former St Louis midfielder Fabien Cadeau increased La Passe’s lead and was expulsed by referee Gonzague Boniface after receiving his second yellow card for his over-the-top celebration.
Captain Bruno Saindini sealed the emphatic victory with a third goal, giving St Louis Suns’ coach Marc Mathiot an indication that there is a lot of work to be done to get his team to gel.
SMB v Foresters
SMB came from behind to register a 2-1 win over Foresters in controversial fashion at Stad Linite last Friday. Foresters players were bitter after the match as they did not deserve to lose and laid all the blame for their defeat on referee Jacques André for awarding a dubious penalty when they looked in command.
Foresters had made a bright start as they fielded possibly their strongest team with skipper Francis Nourrice having returned from injury.
Last year’s Second Division champions Foresters took the game to SMB who struggled in defence as their 3-5-2 strategy failed to function.
In attack, though, SMB looked dangerous as Hendrix Labrosse volleyed over a quick cross by Stephen Léon in the 22nd minute.
Two minutes later, the same Léon picked out captain Che Dorasamy with a cross-field pass but the latter’s attempted lob over goalie Joel Jean sailed over the cross-bar.
Foresters, who had threatened in the opening minutes, should have scored in the 25th minute as Jason Fred broke from defence to link up with Jonathan Knowles who set him up in a great scoring position but the Foresters defender allowed goalie Joel Lesperance to block his shot.
SMB also went mighty close on the half-hour mark as Terrence Kilindo floated a free-kick inside Foresters’ penalty area but Shaun Barbé headed the ball against the cross-bar.
In the 35th minute, Foresters produced a great move which resulted in the game’s first goal.
Derick Figaro released Denis Marie who eluded the tackle of David Dorby and placed his low shot far beyond goalie Lesperance’s reach for a 1-0 score at half-time.
Foresters though sat back in the second half and allowed SMB to attack them at will though they had chances to stretch their lead.
In the 62nd minute, Foresters failed to clear a long ball and even substitute goalie Roy Barbé missed it. Dorasamy looked odds to score but the defence recovered to clear the danger.
Two minutes later, controversy loomed large as Léon pounced on a loose ball but was dispossessed by a clean tackle by Jason Fred. Referee Jacques André hesitated and to everyone’s amazement, he blew his whistle to award SMB a penalty. Foresters’ players were flabbergasted but their protest was in vain as Dorasamy stepped up to level matters at 1-1.
SMB then upped the pressure but should have been punished in the 69th minute on a counter-attack with Marcus Labiche in the clear but his shot hit a post when he should have buried the ball in the net.
In the 76th minute, Foresters rode their luck from Léon’s corner which Dorasamy headed goal-wards but the ball was half-cleared resulting in a mêlée before Foresters finally cleared their line.
Foresters had two gilt-edged opportunities to regain the lead. Labiche shot weakly a loose ball in the 78th minute and in the 83rd minute, Francis Melanie latched on to a long ball but his control let him down at the crucial minute.
Foresters were made to pay for their misses in the 89th minute as SMB laid siege in their penalty area. Léon’s corner was half-cleared and substitute Rannes Vel, formerly with St Louis, blasted the ball into the roof of the net to make it 2-1 to break the hearts of Foresters.
Again the goal had an element of controversy as Dorasamy climbed all over a defender at the near post when the corner-kick was taken, an infringement which was not signalled.
In the dying seconds, SMB’s Roddy César scored with a superb volley from a deep cross but referee André ruled it out for an apparent offside position when the assistant referee had not raised his flag.
Foresters’ representative Frank Aglaé told Sports Nation that his team had shown a slight improvement and felt they deserved better though he did not want to publicly criticise the official.
As for SMB’s captain Dorasamy, he said his team were determined to win their first three points.
R. J-L.