Attendance 200. Referee : M. Bartolomeau, assistants; M.Guedmir & M. Bertin.
Goal : A. Gomis (100, penalty)
Booked : Busuttil (45), R. Gomis (60), A. Gomis (120).
MALAKOFF : Galosi - Sitayeb, Ravaux, Coulibaly, Lucol, Gomez - Abdallah, Ouarra, Khezzani, Bivouac, R. Schneider, Boumezoued, Mezzari - Mazouz. Coach : Ledain.
RED STAR 93 : Bruneau, Pendola, Perron, Gomis R, Guidali, Anderson, Busuttil (NGoma 104), Soumaré, A. Gomis, Saïti (AN Other 78), Gomes-Varela. Sub : Serrea.
Coach : Girard.
MALARKY AT MALAKOFF
On the face of it, this appeared to be a tough task for Red Star - extra time, game decided by a dodgy penalty decision, the opposition, four divisions below Red Star reduced to nine men...
In fact, Red Star should have buried Malakoff. If the game were to be decided on a corner count then the score would have been more like a rugby league score. Throughout the whole game Fabrice Bruneau in the Red Star goal had nothing to do, except to field a couple of back passes. Only in the dying seconds of the game did the home side even threaten Red Star, with a couple of poorly worked free-kicks.
Red Stars' problem appears to be a lack of finising power. The approach waork is good, at times excellent, but what is missing is that bit of individualism in front of goal. Red Star this season as opposed to last season forms a good solid unit, but really that isn't quite enough to unlock a determined defence such as Malakoff, or a fortnight ago at Juvisy.
On the positive side, Red Star were never troubled in defence, Perron was imperious, Guidali confident and Robert Gomis and Andersson had their best games yet for the club.
Red Star camped in the Malakoff half, Saïti and Pendola providing some degree of creativity in midfield and some enterprising passing from the big Finn Andersson set up attacks down the wing by the dangerous Soumare. Up front, though Gome-Varela toiled in vain, and lacked efficincy. Big Arthur Gomis was more than a handful for the home defence, and it was he who finally found the key to the game when he was floored in the penalty area midway through the first period of extra time. Despite protestations from Malakoff, GOMIS remained calm and fired home the spot kick.
After the goal, tempers flared and Malakoff were reduced to ten men, their captain reciving a second yellow card. Moments later the replacement captain also went for an early bath following his second yellow - a slight delay ensued as he refused to leave the pitch.
So Red Star progress, deservedly so despite some dogged defending and the inevitable non-league goalie playing the game of his life - why are these guys languishing in the lower divisions ??