Football: Barclays league division one-St Michel fail to cut La Passe’s lead |30 April 2012
La Passe – St Michel
This highly anticipated match by the two giants of local football was full of tension and also excitement though some unsavoury incidents almost caused this top-of-the-table clash to be abandoned.
The match started in a sombre mood as the players and spectators paid a minute’s silence for a relative of a La Passe player who had passed away this week.
The onus was on St Michel to attack and they started brightly to test a far from solid La Passe defence who missed the injured Malagasy Tholix Jean.
In the fifth minute, Leeroy Corallie released Malagasy Jean Delor Tsaralaza and the La Passe defence hesitated but the former Anse Reunion midfielder shot weakly at La Passe goalkeeper and captain Vincent Euphrasie.
Two minutes later, Corallie again found space in La Passe’s defence to centre to former La Passe striker Marcus Labiche but he failed to connect to the cross.
La Passe almost stunned St Michel with their first real attack as Andrew Jean put in a superb cross to new Malagasy striker Fagnorena whose fantastic volley looked to be destined into the bottom corner until goalkeeper Nelson Sopha produced a world class save to deny the league leaders their opening goal.
In the 18th minute, La Passe’s makeshift defender Valerie almost gifted St Michel with a goalscoring opportunity with a weak back header which Corallie chased but goalkeeper Euphrasie was quick off his line to clear the danger.
In the 24th minute, La Passe again went close from Fagnorena’s cross to Renick Esther whose downward header was deflected into corner.
Two minutes later it was goalkeeper Euphrasie who almost gave away a goal from his poor throw which was picked up by Delor whose instinctive shot though was smothered by the same Euphrasie, much to the relief of the La Passe spectators.
In the 37th minute, St Michel nearly broke the deadlock as Labiche fed Corallie who was clearly offside but assistant referee Fahid Folette’s flag stayed down and the young striker fired wide.
La Passe took the lead in the 41st minute from a free kick which Joel Esther spread to Verna Rose whose floating cross was headed home by Renick Esther to make it 1-0 and spark celebration from the average crowd of La Passe supporters.
The second half was a more intense affair as the officials struggled to handle the match as both teams showed more determination to outwit each other.
St Michel though showed more purpose early on especially Alex Nibourette and in the 50th minute he skipped past two tackles on the left to flash a centre across goal. The ball took an awkward bounce on a bumpy pitch which made goalkeeper Euphrasie fail to cut out the danger. Delor was at the far post to punish him as he squeezed his shot at the near post for a 1-1 score.
The St Michel camp was celebrating again almost a minute later as Nibourette drove forward to link up with Delor who turned provider for Corallie who shot low to beat goalkeeper Euphrasie to give his team a 2-1 advantage.
The La Passe defence were struggling though and in the 55th minute Kenny Nibourette got away scotfree as he tugged Labiche who was in full flight as he raced on goal but the officials failed to blow for an infringement.
La Passe made two substitutions just before the hour mark as footballer of the year Achille Henriette and Yves Zialor replaced Andrew Jean and Geal Gesinghaus who was playing through injury.
Henriette had started on the bench as he had a slight injury and was not 100% fit. However he proved very effective in the 66th minute as he curled a free kick on St Michel’s right flank which flew into the net in a crowded penalty area which again brought joy to the La Passe camp as they regained the momentum at 2-2.
However referee Jean-Claude Labrosse booked the La Passe midfielder for lifting his jersey to show off a log on a t-shirt. The La Passe camp was furious with this decision and they protested vehemently and some spectators even got involved. The match was held off during this melee and during this time a spectator even stamped on assistant referee Jason Damoo’s foot. The officials at this point even contemplated abandoning this match until a few security officials arrived to restore calm. After a seven- minute break, La Passe’s assistant coach Marius Fanchette was sent to the stands and the game started again though this incident raised major questions over security and safety at this ground for officials.
La Passe though were more hungry to win in this latter stage and in the 75th minute, Verna Rose took a long throw in which goalkeeper Sopha came to meet but missed completely. The loose ball fell to Henriette who rifled at goal but Nigel Freminot was on the goalline to stop the goalbound shot.
In the 84th minute, goalkeeper Sopha was again at fault as he missed Jean-Paul Adela’s deep cross and Henriette headed the ball into the goalmouth to Fagnorena who shot at goal and once again Freminot stood defiant to clear the ball on the goalline to keep his team in the match.
In the dying minute the match could have swayed either way as the level of excitement reached fever pitch.
However it was surprising to see the official only allocate four minutes of added time and not even playing the seven lost minutes during the fracas.
In the first minute of injury time Renick Esther should have hit the target from an inch perfect cross by former St Michel midfielder Yves Zialor but from close range, he drilled the ball wide.
In the final second, at the other end substitute Andy Mougal floated a corner which was met by Malagasy Jimmy Radafison’s towering header which was heading for goal until the slightest of touch by goalkeeper Euphrasie pushed the ball onto the post and the threat was thwarted as the two teams had to be content with a point and preserve their unbeaten run.
La Passe coach Bruno Saindini told Sports Nation that the draw is not a good result for his team who should have won especially at home.
“I am not satisfied with the draw. We are not discouraged though but individual mistakes cost us the match in a game where our opponent was desperate for a win,” explained coach Saindini.
As for the St Michel manager Andrew Jean-Louis, he felt his team tried hard in difficult circumstances but the break in the game affected his team’s rhythm.
Côte D’Or – St Louis Suns
Praslin side Côte D’Or returned to winning ways as they inflicted a first defeat on St Louis Suns -- 3-2 -- at the Amitié stadium.
Dine Suzette gave the boys of coach Ahmed Abdou a 1-0 lead.
Malagasy Patrick Rasaminana added a second before the break.
Trevor Poiret cut the deficit in the second half to make it 1-2 but Rasaminana scored a beautiful free kick to restore his team’s two goal cushion (3-1).
Poiret again reduced the arrears late in the game at 2-2 but Côte D’Or held on for all three points.
St Roch – Lightstars
St Roch could only manage a goalless draw against bottom club Lightstars at the Stad Linite on Saturday.
However this draw may be a relief for Lightstars’ Malagasy coach Alison Jean who collected his first point though they remain rooted to the foot of the table.
St Francis clinch last gasp winner
Baie Lazare-based St Francis clinched a last gasp winner against Anse Reunion to triumph 2-1 at Stad Linite on Friday evening.
St Francis were desperate for a win after their humiliating defeat to Quincy last week.
However it was Anse Reunion who made the brightest start as Malagsy Hassan Ali played a free kick to Hubert Ernesta. The former Côte D’Or striker flicked the ball into the path of Yelvanny Rose whose control let him down with a clear chance begging.
St Francis responded in the 21st minute from Radley Monthy’s corner kick but Stephane Barallon headed wide.
In the 27th minutes, St Francis Evans Confiance found space on the right to fire at goalkeeper Wilfred Ally who pushed out the shot.
Anse Reunion were to take the lead in the 33rd minute as the impressive Hassan Ali released Hubert Ernesta who appeared marginally offside, which was not signaled by assistant referee Steve Marie. The lanky Ernesta drilled the ball past goalkeeper Andrea Libanotis to make it 1-0.
St Francis should have equalized in the 36th minute as they played over the defence to Stephane Barallon who rolled the ball in the goal but Malagasy Eddy cleared on the goalline for a corner.
From the resulting corner, captain Ronny Monthy floated the ball to Ryan Antat whose header sailed over the cross bar.
In the 42nd minute, St Francis almost gifted Anse Reunion a goal from a poor goalkick by goalkeeper Andrea Libanotis to Hubert Ernesta but he failed to make the most of the opportunity.
A minute later St Francis drew level from an inch perfect corner by Radley Monthy which Ryan Antat this time round met with a thumping header to level the score at 1-1 at half time.
The two teams struggled to impose their game in the second half as they were too much in a hurry to get the better of each other.
It was only in the 78th minute that St Francis went close to take the lead as Stephane Barallon latched onto a through ball as he linked up with substitute Evans Confiance, who seemed to have been pulled down by goalkeeper Wilfred Ally, but the officials were not convinced.
In the 81st minute, coach player and substitute Malagasy midfielder Jocelyn picked out Hubert Ernesta with his cross but his header was saved.
A minute later at the other end, Stephane Barallon let fly with a fierce 30-metre free kick which sailed inches over the cross bar.
Barallon should have given his team the lead in the 89th minute as he pounced on a defensive error by Jude Payet to bore on goal but he somehow shot over the cross bar when it looked easier to score.
In the third minute of injury time playmaker Radley Monthy threaded a pass to Stephane Barallon. However Anse Reunion goalkeeper Wilfred Ally came racing out of his penalty area to clatter into Barallon. Referee Camille had no choice but to show the Anse Reunion custodian a straight red card.
Ricky Rose took over in goal but he could do nothing to stop Harry Libanotis’ superb free kick which crashed under the cross bar before crossing the line for a deserved 2-1 scoreline.
It was the last kick of the match as St Francis rejoiced though it was muted as St Francis’ Stephane Barallon was carried to hospital after being concussed.
Once again the lack of an ambulance at the stadium was evident and it was the third match in a row that a St Francis player had to be carried to hospital and this time Barallon had to be carried at the back of a pick all the way to hospital.
Coach Marc Mathiot told Nation Sports that his team had got a wake-up call by their defeat last week and showed more determination and will power to win on Friday and praised his team’s effort.