| Referee : M. Biton (pedantic), assistants: M. Castellani & M. Leloup - Attendance : 300. Goals : Ouejdide (36), Van Kets (66 pen & 85), Thiam (90) – Faivre (83). Bookings : Saragaglia (10), Oponga (23), Castro (32), Van Kets (38), Saxemard (86) – Maire (16), Tournoux (30), Faivre (55). Sendings-off : Saragaglia (74) – Tournoux (62) |
For the stay-away Red Star supporters, they missed five goals, two sendings-off and eight bookings, as well as the home sides' first win of the season. Admittedly Besançon were not the best opposition, neither were they the side that they were last season when they performed a smash-and-grab raid at Marville to win 1-0. For the visitors, it looks as if it's going to be a long haul this term.
However Red Star very nearly fell behind in the 23rd minute when former player Cédric Lestic rifled a shot across the face of Brangers' goal, after being let through by an defensive error. Not longer aftern though, the strong physical presence of Red Star striker OUEJDIDE paid dividends, a firm shot being deflected slightly past the visitors' goalkeeper to open the scoring. Minutes later with Laurent Castro making darting runs into the Besançon area, youngster Walid Aïchour almost doubled the advantage, but his shot found the side netting.
A flurry of first-half bookings spoiled the affair, Saragaglia, Oponga, Castro, Van Kets, and Saxemard for the home side, Maire and Tournoux for the visitors. A clash of heads with Patrick Van Kets meant that Tournoux finished the period with a bandage across his head.
The second half held no hope for the Besançon centre-half, either, as he received his marching orders following deliberate hand-ball. Minutes later Patrick VAN KETS was upended in the penalty area, and he himself stepped up to send Lionel Cappone the wrong way. (2-0).
Shortle afterwards numeric egality was restored when the hopelessly ineffective Olivier Saragaglia was shown his second yellow card, for an uncompromising tackle. The spaces opened, and the sickening prospect of a Besançon recovery loomed. The visitors, stung into action pulled one back when Faivre followed up a shot parried away by Branger. (2-1). This served as an incentive to Red Star and they virtually made the points safe as an enterprising run by Tacalfred to the bye-line resulted in a neat pull-back for VAN KETS to gleefully rifle home his second goal. (3-1). As the minutes ticked away, Red Star were awarded a free-kick some twenty metres out. Brahim THIAM stepped up and lashed a powerful drive for the fourth goal.
A page turned for Red Star, now the focus is on a trip to fading La Roche on Saturday. It will be vital to keep the momentum going, now.