Football: SFF Cup Francis hits five to inspire St Michel to victory |15 February 2020
Malagasy Francis Rafaralahy scored five times to inspire Airtel Cup champions St Michel to a whopping 7-0 triumph over championship two side Marine Maintenance at Stad Linite in the second round of the SFF Cup on Thursday afternoon.
St Michel had rotated their starting line-up after their great cup victory on Saturday but it took some time to get going against their junior club Marine Maintenance and they broke the deadlock in the 27th minute from Malagasy Evariste’s corner which was headed home by Francis to make it 1-0.
Francis bagged his brace eight minutes later from a long ball from Nigel Hoareau to Evariste who set up Francis who held off two defenders to fire past goalkeeper Harim Radegonde for a 2-0 score.
Marine Maintenance had a decent chance to cut the deficit from a Jimmy Bijoux mistake allowing Eli Sopha to link up with Raj Anacoura but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Jalyl Servina for a 2-0 score at half-time.
St Michel stretched their advantage on the hour mark after some neat build-up and some superb ball skill by Evariste to create space for Francis for an easy tap in to complete his hat-trick and a 3-0 scoreline.
In the 64th minute, Malagasy Hassan Aly, who was captaining the team, floated a free kick at the near post where Francis guided his stinging header into the roof of the net for his fourth goal and a 4-0 score.
St Michel kept opening up their youth team at will and in the 72nd minute, substitute Alvin Larue combined with Evariste before his cross was stabbed home by another substitute Antonyo Ratafina to make it 5-0.
Larue finished off a sweeping passing move in the 74th minute as he slotted the ball into the net from Bijoux’ teasing cross for a 6-0 score.
Francis grabbed his fifth goal in this match as St Michel got over the departure of Malagasy Oliver Livakely who has joined AS Excelsior in Reunion. Speedy forward Francis latched onto captain Aly’s lofted ball over the Marine Maintenance defence to lob goalkeeper Radegonde to make it 7-0.
St Michel were awarded a penalty in the 86th minute when Ramely Pascal was tripped by substitute Stephan Elizabeth and Evariste stepped up to take the spot kick but goalkeeper Radegonde did well to block his shot but it did not matter as the damage had been done by Francis with his five-goal blitz.
St Michel club secretary Michael Delpeche was pleased that his second string team had won this match comfortably against their youth team.
“Our opponents are our usual sparring partners so we used this match to give some playing time to our reserve players. It is a good result and a good preparation for our must-win league match on Sunday,” Delpeche related to Sports NATION.
As for Marie Maintenance coach Eddie Naiken, he accepted that his team met a much stronger and more experienced opponent than his young squad.
“We managed to hold our opponents for a while but then the players lacked the steam to continue and were always second best to a much stronger team though it was a good experience for my young players,” coach Naiken told Sports NATION.
R. J-L.