Football: Airtel Cup-St Michel stretch unbeaten run with win over St Louis |16 April 2005

The two teams tightened their defence in a balanced affair but St Louis were the more adventurous side in the first frame with their short passing game which prised open St Michel's defensive wall.

The first chance of the game fell to St Louis' young striker Kenneth Khan who skied his shot in the fourth minute from the edge of the penalty area.
From then on, St Louis dominated proceedings and created most of the chances. In the 15th minute, Roy Julie and Philip Zialor combined but the latter's shot lacked the sting to trouble St Michel's custodian Nelson Sopha.

Five minutes later, Julie's shot from outside the penalty area clipped the foot of a post. In the 41st minute, Archille Henriette played an in-swinging cross to strike partner Khan who was unmarked at the far post. Khan rose majestically to head straight into the gloves of keeper Sopha much to the disbelief of the St Louis entourage.

Minutes before the interval, Julie's powerful point-blank range shot came off a defender's leg.

Sensing danger, St Michel brought more urgency to their game in the second period. In the 53rd minute, Henny Dufresne was caught between two minds – either to shoot at goal or trap the ball –  allowing St Louis' Malagasy defender Ralid to clear the danger.

St Louis shocked St Michel in the 69th minute. Philip Zialor went on an audacious run on the left flank before unleashing a powerful shot which forced a good save out of goalie Sopha. The ball rebounded into play and the lurking Julie fired it home.

After the goal, St Michel threw everything into attack and their efforts paid off in the 77th minute when right winger Lorenzo Mathiot outjumped the St Louis defence to equalise.

St Michel could have taken the lead in the 83rd minute but St Louis' goalie Dominic Chang-Waye stopped Garry Robert's effort at the second attempt.

A minute from time, keeper Chang-Waye was guilty of a dreadful mistake that allowed St Michel to collect all three points. Substitute Yves Zialor's cross from the right was fumbled by the inattentive Chang-Waye and substitute Nelson Laurence reacted quickly to strike the ball home.

St Michel are now leading pool A with maximum nine points. As for St Louis, they have slipped into the runners-up spot with six points after two wins and two defeats.

C. J.