Football: Airtel Cup-Skipper Denis’ penalty decides Saints’ clash |17 March 2008
After Saturday’s 2-1 win, St Michel lead group A with seven points after two wins and a draw. As for St Louis Suns, they have amassed three points out of a possible six with a win and a loss.
It was the match local football fans had been looking forward to as they turned up in numbers to witness a fascinating encounter between arguably the two best teams on the island.
Despite being a bit rusty, St Louis Suns were the better side in the opening half hour though St Michel were the first to test goalie Eugene Valentin in the third minute from a free-kick which he saved easily.
In the 10th minute, St Michel’s Malagasy Pascal should have been booked as he punched the ball from a corner but referee Jourdan Benstrong only awarded a free-kick.
Two minutes later, St Louis Suns United should have taken the lead as Archille Henriette broke clear and centred to Congolese Jonathan Mbanze but from point-blank range, St Michel’s goalie Nelson Sopha made a brilliant block to deny the deadly striker.
In the 17th minute, St Louis Suns United’s Malagasy player Jimmy Radafison fed Mervin Mathiot whose fierce shot was turned into corner by a vigilant goalie Sopha.
In the 34th minute, Pascal floated a corner into St Louis Suns’ penalty area and with coach Marc Mathiot’s players unable to clear the danger, Benahovy made the most of the opportunity, firing the ball into the net to send the St Michel supporters into wild celebrations (1-0).
A minute later, Pascal let fly a pile-driver which St Louis Suns’ goalie Valentin did well to parry into corner.
St Louis Suns came all out in the second half and duly levelled matters in the 50th minute. Jones Joubert released Henriette who fired past goalie Sopha to make it 1-1 and it was just the tonic the large crowd longed for as the battle intensified.
In the 63rd minute, Philip Zialor, who had just come on, broke clear and appeared to be brought to the ground by Steven Constance in the penalty area but referee Benstrong was not convinced it warranted a penalty.
Five minutes later, Nigel Freminot bore forward and his teasing cross was met by Zialor’s spectacular diving header which flew inches over the cross-bar.
St Michel increased the pressure as St Louis Suns began to tire out and in the 75th minute Pascal slipped a pass to Alex Nibourette who beat the offside trap but his control let him down as he prepared to fire at goalie Valentin.
In the 78th minute, Pascal flicked a ball into the path of Nibourette who went down under the tackle of Ronny Hoareau and referee Benstrong adjudged that it was worthy of a penalty as he pointed to the spot much to the disgust of the St Louis Suns players whose protest fell on deaf ears.
Captain Denis stepped up to send a low shot which went in via a post despite goalie Valentin going close to saving the shot.
St Michel almost increased the lead two minutes later as Nibourette floated a cross which substitute Bernard St Ange headed across goal and Benahovy directed the ball goal-wards but it was hooked clear on the goal-line.
In the 88th minute, St Louis Suns went agonisingly close to snatch a draw as Hoareau latched onto a half-cleared ball and his raking shot almost crept in at the far post.
In the dying seconds, substitute Trevor Poiret curled a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area just off target.
St Michel’s manager Brian Uranie praised both teams for a good match and added that his team were eager to win this clash.
As for St Louis Suns’ coach Marc Mathiot, he said that the difference between the two teams was St Michel’s better physical condition as they have played more matches this season. Mathiot said that he was generally satisfied with his team’s showing.
Omondi inspires Anse Réunion to victory
Kenyan James Omondi inspired Anse Réunion to victory over SMB at Stad Linite last Friday in another group A encounter.
It was defending Airtel Cup winners Anse Réunion’s first win in this year’s tournament but their performance was far from convincing as they struggled especially in the first half.
SMB, for their part, continued to integrate young players in their team but they looked threatening early on.
In the fourth minute, Yannick Julie chipped a ball to Colin Laporte who was unmarked in the box but he made a meal of this clear chance.
A minute later, Laporte returned the favour to Julie with an instinctive cross after being released by Marcus Melanie but the young striker missed a gaping goal.
SMB continued to carry the game to their opponents who looked out of sorts and in the 11th minute, Anse Réunion’s goalkeeper Ricky Rose was lucky to receive only a yellow card from referee Eddie Maillet as he handled the ball out of the penalty area under pressure from SMB’s lurking strikers.
Anse Réunion came out of their shell and created a very good opportunity in the 28th minute with Yelvanny Rose playing a glorious ball over SMB’s defence to Kenyan James Omondi. The latter’s attempted lob over debutant goalie Steve Morgan sailed agonisingly wide.
Omondi though made amends for this bad miss only three minutes in the second half as he 
The goal enlightened the match as both teams raised their level of play and just past the hour mark, SMB’s Melanie curled a free-kick which forced Anse Réunion’s goalie Rose to tip over the crossbar.
In the 71st minute, Anse Réunion should have doubled the lead as Julius Adrienne released Andy Ernesta whose superb centre should have resulted in a goal but somehow Yelvanny Rose headed over as SMB rode their luck.
Ten minutes later, Adrienne raced through to elude Elvis Leopold’s tackle but he shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
Anse Réunion laid siege to the SMB goal and a minute later substitute Stephen Morel pounced on a defensive error to set up Congolese substitute Dominique Kiyambu whose fierce shot was turned over the crossbar by goalie Morgan.
In the 86th minute, Kenyan Gwada Silas picked out Andy Ernesta with a fantastic ball and his centre was headed over by Morel when it looked easier to score.
Anse Réunion then almost paid for their misses as Ronny Jacques gave away the ball to SMB’s substitute Hendrick Labrosse. Goalie Rose though rushed out of his goal to narrow the angle and deny the former Lions’ striker whose shot was deflected and eventually cleared by Pierre-Luigi Nibourette into corner.
In the dying minutes, Andy Ernesta was sent off for a second bookable offence. Ernesta was pulled back by SMB’s Serge Asba as he went for a ball and he retaliated and received his marching orders from referee Maillet who also booked Asba.
Anse Réunion’s Yugoslav coach Vojo Gardasevic was just pleased with the points but not with the performance as his team played their last match before they take on South African league leaders Ajax Cape Town next weekend in the African Confederation Cup competition.
La Passe edge Plaisance
On La Digue on Saturday, home side La Passe shot to the top of group B with a narrow 1-0 win over Plaisance.
Malagasy Asman Abdou scored the all-important goal in the second half to bring La Passe’s points tally to seven out of a possible nine in three games.
As for Plaisance, they have lost their last two games after their 4-0 drubbing of Foresters in the opening group B encounter.
R. J-L.
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