Football: Airtel Cup-Red Star, St Michel, La Passe win |02 April 2007

St Louis Suns United v/s SMB

In Saturday’s match, SMB drew first blood in the 10th minute after St Louis Suns’ captain Denis Barbé lost the ball to Roddy César who fed Che Dorasamy. The latter centred to captain Colin Laporte who headed the ball over the bar.

Two minutes later, St Louis Suns United went close as Alpha Baldé curled in a corner which both Jonathan Bibi and Jude Nancy narrowly missed.

Midway in the half, goalie Eugène Valentin, who had replaced Vincent Euphrasie –rumoured to have left the team after their 3-0 drubbing by La Passe – saved Bibi’s blushes as Rannes Vel chased a poor back pass.

SMB should have scored in the 26th minute as Stephen Léon released Dorasamy who looked suspiciously offside but assistant referee Jossy Cedras thought otherwise. Dorasamy raced on goal but goalie Valentin was quick off his line, forcing the striker to lob the ball over the bar.

Late in this half, Baldé twice went close, firstly after a neat one-two with Nancy but his shot was blocked by goalie Joel Lesperance and he later shot off target.

The second half provided more goalmouth actions. In the 57th minute, SMB stretched St Louis Suns United’s three-man defence but Ahmed Adrienne failed to hit the target in a good scoring position.

In the 70th minute, St Louis Suns United put together a good passing move involving Barbé and Baldé to set up Archille Henriette whose low shot was smothered by goalie Lesperance.

Seven minutes later, St Louis Suns United rode their luck as Dorasamy weaved his way past Ted Esther to square the ball to César whose shot was deflected into the path of Dorasamy.  As the St Louis Suns United defence waited for an offside flag, Dorasamy fired at goalie Valentin who denied him.

A minute later, again goalie Valentin produced a great save to deny Vel who had broke clear in a one-on-one situation.

On the counter, St Louis Suns United should have scored. Barbé led the charge and his perfectly weighted pass beat SMB’s offside trap to put Mervin Mathiot in the clear. The St Louis midfielder rounded goalie Lesperance but inexplicably shot wide.

In the 81st minute, SMB were denied a blatant penalty by referee Jourdan Benstrong as Esther hacked down Dorasamy who had tormented him all afternoon.

In injury time, SMB were again guilty of a glaring miss as Dorasamy’s cross-field pass was picked up by Laporte who eluded Bibi’s tackle but he failed to trouble goalie Valentin.

Anse Réunion v/s St Michel

Malagasy Pascal Razakananteniana proved the difference between Anse Réunion and St Michel on La Digue on Saturday.

The Malagasy striker scored the all-important goal in the first half to help St Michel register their fourth consecutive victory in as many matches in the Airtel Cup.

Light Stars v/s Red Star

Red Star came from behind to beat Light Stars 2-1 at the Baie Ste Anne Praslin playing field on Saturday.

Renick Esther opened the score for Light Stars in the ninth minute, but defender Nigel Freminot equalised for Red Star from the penalty spot in the 21st minute.

Red Star though won all three points with a strike by Malagasy Guy Rene Raberante two minutes later.

La Passe maintain winning streak

La Digue-based La Passe stretched their winning streak to four with a 3-0 victory over Foresters at Stad Linite last Friday.

Foresters though were the better side even though they were unable to field their new Malagasy recruit – former Red Star defender Robert Edmond.

In the second minute, captain Francis Nourrice released Marcus Labiche whose control let him down when he had a clear chance.

Seven minutes later after a mêlée in the La Passe penalty area, Geal Gesinghaus diverted the ball which almost went into his own net had it not been cleared by his colleague, defender Allain Bibi.

Midway in the first half, Malagasy striker Jean Rakotonirina met colleague Bruno Saindini’s free-kick but Foresters’ goalie Joel Jean was equal to the task.

First division newcomers Foresters continued to match La Passe who put in one of their worst performances this season under Mauritian coach France L’Aiguille.

The 2005 League champions could only break the deadlock in the 40th minute. Malagasy Eric Rajaobery threaded a pass to Rakotonirina who was clean through but goalie Jean diverted his shot into corner. From the resulting corner lofted by Jude Ladouce, an unmarked Rakotonirina headed the ball past goalie Jean for a 1-0 lead.

La Passe were quick off the mark in the second half as Saindini lofted a free-kick inside Foresters’ penalty area and Ladouce turned from provider to scorer as he glanced a header into the net to make it 2-0.

Foresters should have reduced the deficit in the 54th minute as Labiche broke through and rounded goalie Kitson Cécile but his goal-bound shot was cleared on the goal-line by a defender.

Under the guidance of technical advisor Terence Barbé, Foresters kept up the pressure and in the 77th minute Jason Fred chipped a ball to Norvil Gaspard whose header sailed agonisingly wide.

La Passe should have extended their lead in the 81st minute as defender Michel Souris overlapped to centre to Rakotonirina who missed the target.

In the 88th minute, La Passe sealed their win as substitute Rick Bibi latched on to a long ball to release Rakotonirina whose shot was deflected into corner. Bibi floated the corner which Rakotonirina headed into the root of the net for a 3-0 win.

Coach L’Aiguille accepted that his team struggled to get going but said that the result was more important.

As for Foresters’ spokesperson Frank Aglaé, he bemoaned his team’s missed opportunities which swayed the match in La Passe’s favour.

R. J-L.