Football: SeyPearl Premier League |29 February 2020

LightStars lash out at Au Cap

Praslin-based club LightStars ripped apart bottom team Au Cap as Malagasy striker Paul Bruyelle scored four goals in a crushing 13-0 victory at Stad Linite on Thursday afternoon in a SeyPearl Premier League fixture.

LightStars, who are still in buoyant mood after shattering Foresters’ unbeaten league run, opened the floodgates as early as the 45th second when Malagasy Paul Bruyelle’s pass was miscued by defender Jean Yves Joseph and the ball fell invitingly to young Christian Uranie who thumped it past goalkeeper Julio Marie to make it 1-0.

Au Cap though should have equalised in the 16th minute from Jean Yves Labiche’s cross field pass to the unmarked Mederick Jean-Baptiste but he could not hit the target.

LightStars doubled their lead in the 21st minute from a quick throw-in by Renick Esther to Bruyelle who turned and rifled an unstoppable low shot from the edge of the penalty area which goalkeeper Marie could not prevent from crossing the goalline for a 2-0 lead.

Six minutes later, defender Jean-Yves Joseph gave away a penalty as he tripped Bertrand Lablache in full flow and Malagasy Mamy was assigned the spot kick and he coolly dispatched it to make it 3-0.

On the half hour mark, LightStars put a string of passes together before Uranie slipped a pass to Lablache who burst into the opposition’s penalty area to let fly a cracking shot to make it 4-0.

A minute later Bruyelle linked up with Renick Esther whose near post cross was diverted past goalkeeper Marie for a 5-0 lead and Malagasy Bruyelle’s second goal of the game.

In the 34th minute, LightStars should have been awarded a second penalty when goalkeeper Marie’s mistimed tackle brought down Bruyelle but referee Dario Landrie was not convinced.

Two minutes later, the Praslin side scored a beauty from Mamy’s corner which goalkeeper Marie punched out as far as Malagasy defender Jeannot who unleashed a cracking volley which crashed into the net for a 6-0 scoreline.

Au Cap had a great chance to reduce the arrears in the 38th minute from Jean-Yves Labiche’s inch-perfect cross to captain Sean Romain but his point blank header was stopped by a brilliant one-handed save by goalkeeper Romeo Barra as the score remained at 6-0 at half-time.

The players of coach Ted Esther extended their lead in the 53rd minute from a quick Ian Vel free kick to Bruyelle who bore on goal and his shot was spilled by goalkeeper Marie and Mamy buried home the loose ball for his brace and a 7-0 advantage.

LightStars were hungry for more goals and in the 58th minute, Bruyelle broke free on the right and his cross was dummied by Lablache as the ball rolled to Renick Esther whose rasping left footer crashed into the net to make it 8-0.

In the 63rd minute, Uranie played a quick free kick to Lablache who showed a burst of speed to leave several defenders in his wake and he blasted a fierce shot past goalkeeper Marie for a 9-0 score.

A minute later, Mamy weaved his way past a couple of defenders and his cross was bundled into the net by Renick Esther to make it 10-0.

In the 76th minute, Lablache picked out Bruyelle who was unmarked in the box and he directed his header on target for an 11-0 score to complete his hat-trick.

Bruyelle bagged his fourth personal goal in the 87th minute from Renick Esther’s cross-cum-shot which he guided into the net from an offside position which was not signalled by assistant referee Nerry Luc for a 12-0 score.

LightStars sealed their whopping win in added time when substitute Femi Kasmaier tripped Lablache to concede a second penalty and Malagasy substitute Mario Ravo was given the chance to get on the score sheet and he stabbed the ball past goalkeeper Marie.

LightStars coach Ted Esther told Sports NATION he was happy with his team’s win: “It was a very satisfying win for my team where they wanted to win by a wide margin and so they worked hard and I have to give them credit for this victory.”

R. J-L.