Football: SeyPearl Premier League |14 December 2020
St Louis' Karl Hall equalised from a free kick
St John Bosco stun St Michel, La Passe and Anse Reunion win
Newly promoted St John Bosco stunned St Michel 3-1 at Stad Linite on Friday afternoon and on Saturday, La Digue sides La Passe and Anse Reunion registered comfortable victories while St Louis and Northern Dynamo drew 1-1 at Stad Linite.
St John Bosco stun St Michel
Former St Michel coach Vivian Bothe plotted the downfall of this record league winners as he guided his newly promoted side St John Bosco to a fantastic 3-1 triumph over St Michel on Friday afternoon in the shock result so far in the SeyPearl-sponsored Premier League.
Malagasy Jules Rapiera, who had a superb game, gave the Pointe Larue-based side a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute as he fired past St Michel reserve goalkeeper Harim Radegonde.
St Michel though restored parity minutes later as Malagasy Evariste scored past goalkeeper and captain Duane Romain for a 1-1 score at half-time.
St John Bosco regained their lead in the second period courtesy of Darwin Rosette for a 2-1 score which forced St Michel to throw caution to the wind. However, they got caught in the 86th minute as St John Bosco broke quickly down the left and substitute Saidou Jean-Baptiste Faure’s shot was spilled by goalkeeper Radegonde and Randolph Elizabeth was on hand to tuck the loose ball into the roof of the net for a 3-1 score which delighted coach Bothe when he spoke to Sports NATION.
“We were well organised tactically as we stopped their midfield and did not allow them to get going. So, we fully deserve our victory as the players put in a lot of effort for such a good result which will boost the morale of the whole team,” St John Bosco coach Bothe told Sports NATION.
La Passe thrash LightStars
La Passe thrashed LightStars 5-1 at Stad Amitié on Saturday afternoon in the Inner Islands SeyPearl Premier League.
Brandon Fanchette opened the floodgates in the first half for a 1-0 lead and Malagasy Marthelin made it 2-0 minutes later.
Malagasy Florent saw his penalty stopped by LightStars goalkeeper Romeo Barra but the ball was played back to him to score and make it 3-0 for La Passe at the interval.
Florent added a second goal for a 4-0 lead in the second period and Marthelin also bagged his brace to stretch their team’s lead to 5-0.
The players of coach Ted Esther managed a consolation goal late in the match courtesy of a strike by substitute Jeron Joubert for a 5-1 final scoreline.
Anse Reunion overwhelm Revengers
Anse Reunion overwhelmed Revengers 3-0 at the L’Union playing field on Saturday afternoon for their second win this season.
Malagasy Iavo broke the deadlock in the first half for his fourth goal in the league this season for a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Iavo netted his brace in the second period before substitute Julius Rose rounded off the scoring for a solid 3-0 victory for Anse Reunion.
St Louis and Northern Dynamo draw
St Louis had to battle from a goal down at half-time to force a 1-1 draw with Northern Dynamo at Stad Linite on Saturday afternoon.
St Louis almost gifted their opponents an opening goal in the 10th minute when captain Collin Bibi gave the ball away to Malagasy Rajamana but the normally lethal striker shot wide the clear chance.
St Louis responded in the 20th minute as Karl Hall linked up with captain Collin Bibi who released Nigerian James Joseph who cut inside his marker to let fly a cracking shot which crashed against the Northern Dynamo post.
Northern Dynamo went ahead rather controversially in the 27th minute when referee Dario Landrie allowed too much physicality in this match to go unpunished and did not penalise a foul on Travis Jerome when he was held back. Northern Dynamo made the most of this opportunity. Terry Estico raced clear on the left to float the ball into the St Louis penalty area to Rajamana who rose majestically to head past Malagasy goalkeeper Michel for a 1-0 lead at half-time.
St Louis raised the tempo in the second period and in the 51st minute, the official and his assistant Gerald Pool were not on the same wavelength as Pool flagged for an infringement after Jerome’s cross seemed to hit defender Darren Gonsalves on the arm. After much indecision, referee Landrie blew his whistle but gave the infringement outside the penalty area and Hall’s free-kick was cleared on the goal-line.
In the 53rd minute, Northern Dynamo goalkeeper Mario Banane gave the ball to Hubert Jean who tried to lob the Dynamo custodian who redeemed himself by intercepting the ball.
St Louis levelled matters on the hour mark when Urri Bibi was fouled outside the penalty area and Hall fired a low free kick into the bottom corner to make it 1-1 as Northern Dynamo goalkeeper Banane injured himself and had to be replaced by Cameroonian Frank Moutoni.
The goal inspired St Louis as they put pressure on their opponents and in the 71st minute, substitute Gervais Waye-Hive lofted a free kick which Juninho Mathiot glanced at goal forcing a double save from goalkeeper Moutoni.
In the 80th minute, Northern Dynamo rode their luck from Travis Jerome’s cross-cum-shot which sailed over goalkeeper Moutoni and hit the post before the danger was cleared.
St Louis were unlucky in the 84th minute as James broke clear on the line to elude defender Dino Clarisse to cut the ball back to Hall whose shot was blocked by goalkeeper Moutoni as the two teams shared the points though St Louis coach Michel Renaud was not happy with his team’s performance.
“We started slowly and lacked intensity and made a mistake to give away a goal and give our opponents the confidence. But we were better in the second half but there is still work to be done,” the St Louis coach said.
As for Northern Dynamo coach Bryan Bastienne, he was not pleased with his team’s performance as he felt his team could have won this match.
“I’m not satisfied with the final result as I feel we could have collected all three points though we had to defend a lot, but overall it was a decent performance,” the Dynamo coach said.
R. J-L.
