Att : 150 – Referee : M. Guillard, assistants M. Marie & M. Conetto.
Goal : Soumare (65)
Bookings : Soumare (70), R. Gomis (74)
RED STAR 93 : Bruneau, Pendola (Gomes Varela 59) R. Gomis, Santos, Perron, Anderson, Soumaré (Guidali 79), Busuttil, Sabin, A. Gomis, Saïti. Sub: Sarambounou.
Coach : J.L. Girard.
NANCY : Fève, Sekour, Djellal, Hadjil (Pannier 66), Tournut, El Moussaïd, Znevic, Reguette (Hamdani 73), Sow Samba, Clere, Roux. Sub: Rabot. Coach : M. Bezaz.
MARCHING ON ?
Nancy made many changes from the side that drew 1-1 earlier in the season, due to a lengthening first-team injury list. Fielding a very young side, they still proved to be technically as good as if not better than the home side. The game balanced on an inspired substitution by Jean-Luc Girard, bringing off the largely inefficient and inconspicous Pendola and replacing him by the live wire Gomes Varela.
The change brought to life a close fought encounter - the extra pace testing out tired legs down the Nancy left. Within seconds of coming on he had weaved his way on a couple of mazy runs, but each time coming up against a well-organised defence. Ironically, the goal came not from the efforts of Gomes Varela, but from a pin-point left wing cross from off all people central defender Rudy Perron, who picked out Abdoulaye SOUMARE on the penalty spot, and his turn and crisp shot under the body of the advancing goalkeeper gave Red Star the lead just after the hour.
Earlier in the game, Fabrice Bruneau had come to Red Stars' rescue on a couple of occasions as Nancy threatened - one wonderful save, but the goal would not have counted anyway as the striker was offside.
Watched by Selby Towns' travelling army (okay, my Father), Red Star put on a good show for their noisy supporters, who were rewarded by the players coming over at full time. ALso present were several members of Red Stars' Kop Bauer, who were making their first outing of the season - the spirit of Sedan appears to have gone to sleep for a while. This site put up a 18-foot long banner with the site name on; the sun shone into our eyes for most of the game; someone even shouted out from the VIP stand opposite. (containing around thirty people).
For Red Star, Perron was excellent in defence, Bruneau saved the game for us, Soumaré deserved his goal. Santos is a rock in defence and tackled solidly - one to watch. Other than that, Pendola never really got into the game, Big Arthur was strangely quiet, Saïti well-shackled, Sabin posed problems for the Nancy defence and Robert Gomis avoided getting sent off. All in all a good day at the office.
© AllezRedStar.com 2002