Football: Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) Cup |24 May 2023
Anse Réunion, La Passe in La Digue derby final
This year’s Seychelles Football Federation Cup will definitely go to La Digue since the champions will be decided through a derby between the island’s two major selections, namely La Passe and Réunion, who have both made it to the final scheduled for June 10.
For Anse Réunion, the road to the final started quite smoothly, firstly by thrashing Championship side Mont Fleuri 5-0, before beating PTL Bazar Brother 3-0 to reach the semifinal where they were up against Real Maldives.
With both teams bringing their A-game, Anse Réunion managed to get a 3-2 win in extra time.
In the semifinal, right from the kick-off, Real Maldives applied significant attacking pressure onto their opponents which eventually paid off when Malagasy Xavier attempted a lobbed pass into the six yard box and missing his timing, his compatriot Eddie who plays for Anse Réunion was forced to score in his own net giving Real Maldives the lead in the 6th minute of play.
Not wanting the match to slip away from them, Anse Réunion replied by levelling the score 10 minutes later through Razafijuatsimba.
Reorganising themselves in the second half, Anse Réunion took the lead in the 55th minute from a set piece by Veron Rose, and with the Real Madrid defence crumbling, Stenio Ernesta scored to give the La Digue side a 2-1 lead.
With both teams continuously pushing forward, Anse Réunion were reduced to 10 men in the 62nd minute when Peter Constance was sent off for a vicious tackle on Xavier.
Making the most of their one-man advantage, Real Maldives brought on Darren Payet and Jean De L’Or before Jerrick Vidot equalised for them from a direct free kick with his left foot from 12 yards out, exerting more pressure on the La Digue side.
The score remained at 2-2 after 90 minutes of play and in added time, Razafijuatsimba scored his second goal of the match to give Anse Réunion a 3-2 advantage.
Pushing for an equaliser, Real Maldives were denied when Chris Cecile headed the ball into the net but, the match officials judged that the ball was cleared on the line by the Anse Réunion defenders.
At the final whistle, the score remained 3-2 in favour of the La Digue side, earning them the win and a place in the final.
As for La Passe, their SFF Cup campaign began with a 3-0 win over Praslin side Revengers, before they thrashed Tigers 5-1 to reach the semifinal where they met Foresters.
Foresters took the lead in the 14th minute through Jean Tigana, and it was only in the 82nd minute that La Passe managed to get an equaliser through Afana Aboudou, sending the match into extra-time.
No goals were squared in the added time, forcing the match to be decided in a penalty shoot-out which went in favour of the inner island side, with goalkeeper Ian Ah-Kong scoring the winning spot kick.
Neil Sirame