Football: SeyPearl Premier League |18 February 2020

Hasan Aly (no. 20) scored from the penalty spot for league leaders St Michel

St Michel edge Anse Reunion to stretch lead

St Michel edged La Digue outfit Anse Reunion at Stad Linite on Sunday afternoon to stretch their advantage to four points at the top of the SeyPearl Premier League table.

Anse Aux Pins-based St Michel carried the game to their opponents and Nigel Hoareau tested goalkeeper Ricky Rose in the 18th minute with a long range shot which the Anse Reunion custodian smothered at the second attempt.

In the 23rd minute, Malagasy Hassan Aly drove a free kick from the edge of the penalty area at goalkeeper Rose who turned the ball into corner as the Anse Aux Pins-based team pressed for an opening.

Four minutes later Malagasy Evariste raced clear into their opponents’ penalty area and eluded his marker to shoot at goalkeeper Rose who tipped his shot over the cross bar as the first half ended on a 0-0 score.

Anse Reunion showed more purpose in the second period and in the 49th minute, Malagasy Iavo latched onto a long ball but he shot in the side netting. 

Six minutes later, Achille Ernesta played a quick free kick to Yelvanny Rose who set up Warren Bibi but he delayed his shot as the danger was cleared.

St Michel broke the stalemate somewhat controversially in the 74th minute when defender Yannick Manou went sprawling to the floor after a tackle by Achille Ernesta which referee Alix Bonne thought it was worthy of a penalty, much to the disgust of the Anse Reunion players and coaching staff.

Aly took responsibility of the spot kick and he coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to wrong foot goalkeeper Rose and give his team a 1-0 lead as the Anse Reunion players continued to make their feeling known to the official.

The league leaders should have added a second goal on the stroke of fulltime from Aly’s through ball to substitute Antonyo Ratafina whose shot was charged down by goalkeeper Rose and the loose ball fell to Norris Bibi but he fired his shot across the Anse Reunion goalmouth.

Anse Reunion had a gilt edge opportunity in the 93rd minute when Iavo pounced on a long ball to bore on goal and he attempted to loft the ball over St Michel goalkeeper Jalyl Servina who was off his goal line but defender Manou just managed to get a block to divert the ball into corner to help his team hold on to their slender lead to win all the points to open a four-point lead over second-placed Foresters and their manager Andrew Jean-Louis was just pleased they had secured all three points in a difficult match.

“We had control of the match in the first half especially, though it was difficult as our opponents packed their defence but we won a penalty which helped us to win three crucial points after our closest challengers dropped points over the weekend. It is a good result,” manager Jean-Louis told Sports NATION.

For his part, Anse Reunion coach Basil Hoareau was very unhappy with the official for awarding St Michel a penalty which swung the tide in their opponents’ favour.

“We feel hard done by the official for giving a penalty against us late in the match after we had managed to contain our opponents and even had a decent chance to level the score in this closely fought match,” coach Hoareau related to Sports NATION.

R. J-L.