Football: SeyPearl Premier League |23 September 2019
Côte d’Or, St Michel, La Passe, Revengers victorious
Reigning league champions Côte d’Or defeated neighbours LightStars 2-0 at Stad Amitié on Saturday while on La Digue, St Michel beat Anse Reunion 2-0 and Revengers sneaked past Victoria City 1-0 at Stad Linite. On Friday, La Passe came from behind to overcome St Louis 3-1 at Stad Linite in the weekend matches in the SeyPearl Premier League.
Côte d’Or defeat LightStars
Côte d’Or bounced back from their loss in the African Champions League to Mamelodi Sundowns to get past their neighbours LightStars 2-0 at Stad Amitié on Saturday.
The match was goalless in the first half but Côte d’Or broke the stalemate in the 53rd minute courtesy of a strike by Malagasy midfielder Jonas to make it 1-0 and Perry Monnaie sealed all the points with his first goal for his new club for a 2-0 victory.
St Michel see off Anse Reunion
St Michel saw off the threat of Anse Reunion in a 2-0 triumph at the L’Union playing field on La Digue on Saturday afternoon.
St Michel scored twice in the second period through their captain Alex Nibourette and Malagasy Oliver Livakely netted his team’s second for a 2-0 score and the home side also had defender Adrian Choisy sent off by referee Nelson Emile for two bookable offences late in the match.
La Passe sink St Louis
La Passe came from behind to sink St Louis 3-1 on Friday afternoon at Stad Linite to inflict a first defeat on the Gran Kaz champions.
St Louis though were the better side despite missing several of their key players and where Yury Bibi made his debut for them in midfield.
In the 25th minute, Jude Nancy fed Dorian Hoareau who tried to bend the ball into the top corner but it flew narrowly wide.
St Louis went even closer deep in added time in the first half from Gerick Vidot’s free kick which crashed against the crossbar.
The central Mahé outfit broke the deadlock nine minutes into the second half as Hoareau who looked suspiciously offside raced clear to slot the ball past La Passe goalkeeper Basil Esther for a 1-0 score.
However, the lead was short-lived as La Passe levelled matters in the 58th minute through a series of defensive errors coupled with goalkeeper Michel failing to hold on to Malagasy Rhino’s corner and his colleague Florent headed the ball into the net to make it 1-1.
St Louis gave a debut to former Victoria City midfielder Hubert Jean in the 63rd minute but it was the La Digue side who scored again in the 64th minute when St Louis gave away a cheap free kick 35 metres out of their goal.
Rhino stepped up to curl in a fantastic free kick which took refuge into the top hand corner with goalkeeper Michel unable to reach the ball for a 2-1 scoreline.
Things went from bad to worse for St Louis as Mike Lesperance brought down Florent in the 80th minute and referee Emile Fred pointed to the penalty spot and Rhino blasted the spot kick into the bottom corner for his brace and a 3-1 lead for his team as St Louis just fell apart much to the frustration of their assistant coach Rodney Choisy.
“We were in control of this match but we committed too may silly mistakes as well as not taking our chances in front of goal and it proved costly,” Choisy told Sports NATION.
As for La Passe coach Bruno Saindini, this was a very good win away from home for his side that had lost to these same opponents in the Gran Kaz final early this year.
“We played a good team who dominated this match but for us we did what was required to win and it is three vital points away from home,” coach Saindini claimed.
Revengers sneak past Victoria City
Praslin side Revengers sneaked past Victoria City in a 1-0 win at Stad Linite on Saturday afternoon for their first win in the league.
The Praslin team had the first chance in this match from Laurent Marie’s cross to Malagasy Marthelin but he miscued his shot in a good scoring position.
City responded two minutes later when Dareem Esparon galloped down the right to pick out Roy Julie in the Revengers penalty area but Julie took time to adjust his shot and was crowded out.
Revengers should have taken the lead in the 26th minute when Malagasy Herod fired at goalkeeper Ritchie Dubel who spilled the ball to Danio François but he shot straight into the gloves of the City custodian.
Ten minutes later, Marthelin had an even better opportunity as he latched onto Herod’s through ball to outspeed the City defence but goalkeeper Dubel stood tall to block his shot in a one-on-one situation.
The players of coach Neddy Rose though opened the scoring in the 37th minute from a long ball from defence by Malagasy Zenith and goalkeeper Dubel rushed out of his goal but Marie flicked the ball with his head over him and the ball sailed into the net for a 1-0 score at half time.
Revengers should have increased their advantage three minutes into the second period from a well-weighted pass by Herod to François who had drifted into the City defence but the striker could not direct a free header on target.
City though raised the tempo and in the 49th minute, Nelleri Maillet flashed the ball across the Revengers penalty area where Heidy Labrosse missed the ball and it rolled to captain Leroy Chetty whose sweetly struck volley produced a fine save out of goalkeeper and Revengers captain Gino Melanie.
The former St Michel goalkeeper was again called into action in the 57th minute from Esparon’s threaded ball to Labrosse who looked marginally offside but was not signalled but goalkeeper Melanie raced out of his goal to clear the danger.
Revengers almost added a second goal in the 81st minute as City pushed for an equaliser and played with only three at the back. Goalkeeper Dubel hurried his clearance and it fell straight to the lurking Marthelin who rounded Dubel but his goal bound shot was cleared by Eddy Bistoé who had tracked back but Revengers held on for a narrow victory and coach Needy Rose was quite pleased with the result.
“It is a welcomed victory though we should have scored more goals but overall it is a good result for this team and we must try to build on this away win,” said Revengers coach Rose.
As for his counterpart, Joel Decommarmond, he was disappointed with the result in what he felt was a balanced match.
“Our performance was not too bad but we made silly mistakes and our opponents capitalised on them, so we must work harder for the next match,” the City coach stated.
R. J-L.