Football: SFF division one league - Minnows upset big guns |23 May 2016

Defending league champions and leaders St Michel were beaten 2-1 on Praslin on Saturday by Revengers while on La Digue, St John Bosco upset Anse Reunion 3-1. On Mahé, La Passe added to Plaisance’s troubles with a 4-2 victory.

On Friday, Praslin side LightStars inflicted a heavy defeat on high flying Foresters as they came from behind to thump the second placed outfit 7-1, while St Louis suffered their fourth defeat this season as they were beaten 4-2 by Northern Dynamo.

Revengers stun St Michel

Revengers claimed the scalp of another big gun on Saturday on Praslin as they defeated St Michel 2-1 in an entertaining encounter.

After beating Côte d’Or in their previous outing, Revengers were in buoyant mood against the league leaders as the first half ended scoreless.

Revengers though took the lead early in the second period courtesy of a strike by Malagasy Evariste for a 1-0 lead.

St Michel drew level late in this match through footballer of the year Carl Hall to make it 1-1 but Revengers struck in the dying minutes from a trademark free kick by Evariste to secure all the three points in a 2-1 win which really pleased coach Basil Hoareau who was happy with his team’s performance in what he described as an open and balanced match which could have gone either way. But he was just glad it was his team who took their chances well to inflict a second league defeat on St Michel who still remain top of the SFF league division one.

Labiche leads La Passe to victory

Marcus Labiche netted a brace to inspire La Passe to come from behind to beat bottom club Plaisance 4-2 at Stad Linite on Saturday.

Plaisance had made a decent start in this match though La Passe should have opened the scoring in the 15th minute from captain Achille Henriette’s pinpoint cross to Stenio Ernesta but the latter headed in the side-netting.

Plaisance broke the deadlock on the half hour mark following a poor back pass by Laurel Ladouce to his goalkeeper Vincent Euphrasie. The ball bounced awkwardly as he tried to clear and the lurking Tanzanian Hussein Bakari latched onto it to direct the ball into an empty net to make it 1-0.

The goal should have been the platform for Plaisance to build on to go in search of their first win of the season but they shot themselves in the foot two minutes later as Henny Dufresne inexplicably handled captain Henriette’s cross as he battled for the ball with burly Ugandan Patrick Ochian. Referee Jean-Claude Labrosse had no option but to point to the spot for a penalty and Henriette sent goalkeeper Alvin Michel the wrong way for a 1-1 score.

Plaisance twice had chances to restore their advantage such as in the 36th minute when Gabonese Tony Moussikoue raced through but shot weakly at goalkeeper Euphrasie who was already on the deck and four minutes later Vanerick Michel headed over the crossbar a free header from Marcus Cedras’ corner kick.

La Passe took the lead on the stroke of half-time as Ugandan David Bagoole spread the ball to Marcus Labiche who centred to Stenio Ernesta who in turn controlled and blasted it into the roof of the net to make it 2-1 at the break.

Plaisance should have equalised in the 57th minute as Moussikoue again found space on the left to bore on goal but he allowed goalkeeper Euphrasie to block his shot much to the frustration of his teammates.

Plaisance were made to pay for their miss in the 68th minute as Ugandan substitute Jakech Samson raced onto a long ball to outsprint Dufresne and the outrushing goalkeeper Michel before crossing to Labiche who headed home for a 3-1 score.

Ten minutes later, Labiche completed his brace after captain Henriette played a short corner to Collin Esther who fired at goalkeeper Michel who spilled the ball and there was Labiche to punish him and tuck the loose ball into the net for a 4-1 scoreline.

Plaisance reduced the arrears in the 88th minute after Tanzanian Ngate Chanai cut inside to feed Henny Dufresne who rifled a low shot past goalkeeper Euphrasie for a 4-2 final score. Dufresne must be grateful for being still in the match at this stage as referee Labrosse was too lenient towards him for swearing out loud minutes earlier after being fouled by Samson. The whole stadium heard him swearing but the official decided not to take any action which was really bizarre in itself.

La Passe coach Bruno Saindini was pleased with the result which helps his team to keep pace with the leaders.

“It was vital to win all the points especially as the league is going to break for a long period of time and also to improve our position,” coach Saindini told Sports Nation.

St John Bosco upset Anse Reunion

St John Bosco upset Anse Reunion on La Digue with a hard-fought 3-1 win to register their second victory in the top flight.

Anse Reunion had opened the score as early as the 10th minute through Malagasy Estel Randrina for a 1-0 lead but Bosco leveled the score in the 44th minute via a penalty tucked away by Terry Lesperance for a 1-1 score at half-time.

Randolph Elizabeth then grabbed a brace, his first goal came in the 55th minute and his second on the hour mark to inspire his team to a 3-1 away victory.

LightStars demolish Foresters

LightStars came from behind to inflict the heaviest defeat – 1-7 – on high flying Foresters on Friday at the Amitié Stadium.

Ugandan Mughisha Ayubu gave Foresters a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute but Malagasy Mario Ravo levelled the score at 1-1 in the 37th minute and his countryman Paul Bruyelle made it 2-1 in the 40th minute.

LightStars were unstoppable in the second period as they tore apart Foresters after captain Noelson Jeannot made it 3-1 through the penalty awarded by referee Nelson Emile just past the hour mark and in the 69th minute, Bruyelle bagged his brace for a 4-1 score.

Bertrand Lablache got in on the scoring act in the 71st minute to make it 5-1 and Renick Esther netted twice in the 83rd and 86th minutes to complete the 7-1 rout for the players of coach James Barra over the early league leaders whose coach Rodney Choisy was left stunned.

“We were missing a few players through injury and suspension as well as some who did not get release from their employers to travel for this match but we just crumbled after the interval and we have no excuse for what happened,” coach Choisy told Sports Nation.

Dynamo halt St Louis’ progress

Northern Dynamo came from a goal down to beat St Louis 4-2 at Stad Linite on Friday afternoon.

St Louis had made a bright start as Nigerian Kazeem Adeyeri opened the scoring in the second minute for a 1-0 lead but it was short-lived as Dynamo’s Malagasy midfielder Rajomanana leveled matters following a penalty awarded by referee Alistair Barra in the 6th minute for a 1-1 score.

Dynamo’s young defender Kevin Estico put his team ahead in the 14th minute for a 2-1 advantage but St Louis’ skipper Mervin Mathiot equalised in the 27th minute for a 2-2 scoreline at half-time.

Dynamo added two more goals after the break through Kieren Sinon in the 54th minute and Daniel Maillet in the 65th minute for a 4-2 result though they lost their captain, Gambian Modou Jallow, in the 76th minute as he collided with his own player and was transported to hospital for treatment.

R. J-L.