RED STAR 2 CRETEIL 0
Saturday 8th March 2003
Goals : M'Boungou-Matondo (13), Mongin (87)
Referee : M. Marey, assistants M. Lartigot & M. Lissorgue - Attendance : 150
Booked : M'Boungou Matondo (48), Carles (76), Hammami (80), Kor (83) - Kimbélé (22), Durand (44), Martineau (63)
RED STAR : Néret, Hammami, Sahridj, Kor, Kébé, Hamdane, Carles, Lakrout, M'Boungou Matondo, Delaneuville, Fissirou (Mongin 52). Subs: Marques & Ribeiro. Coach : M. Ousfane.
CRETEIL : Legrand, Kimbebé, Primorac, Martineau, Ayangma, Fabre, Barbier, Sousa, Kossongou, Ouadah (Bousansa 69), Durand. Subs: Tassasi & Assavie. Coach : S. Vukicevic.
GREAT WIN
It was payback day for Red Stars' long-suffering fans on Saturday. After a long wait for a win, Red Stars' youngsters finally got their just desserts in beating their visitors from the south-east of Paris 2-0.
To be honest, it was a bit of smash-and-grab job. Créteil, technically superior as in the match earlier in the season, dominated for long periods and it was some fine defending and excellent goalkeeping which kept them at bay.
With both the regular first team goalkeeper and the reserve team 'keeper out of the reckoning Fred Néret earned himself a recall, and responded in fine fashion. Criticised earlier in the season by some of the supporters, Néret produced a near-faultless display to play an important rôle in the victory.
Red Star had to wait until the 13th minute before they were able to break out of their own half. A good moved resulted in Créteils' defence conceding a free kick some twenty five metres out. Delaneuville, back in midfield after his exploit last week between the posts curled a beauty which had the goalie beaten, but the shot hit the crossbar and bounced down. Legrand succeded in keeping the ball from crossing the line, but M'BOUNGO-MATONDO reacted first, ahead of the static defence and fired the ball into the empty net (1-0).
Afterwards Créteil pressed forwards in search of the equaliser, but were kept at bay by a defence ably marshalled around Kébé and Anderson Korr, restored to a natural place in defence from the wilderness of midfield. When the defence was breached Néret proved to be a formidable last line. Just before the pause Red Star had a great chance to wrap the game up as Fissirou embarked on a solo run, fed by Delaneuville. But with only the goalkeeper to beat, panic set in and the youngster crossed to a non-existant colleague.
The game continued more or less to the same pattern after half-time, with the supporters grouped in the stand nearest the Bauer end seeing very little of the action at close quarters. Fissirou went off before the hour to be replaced by Mongin, the latter injecting a little more urgency into Red Stars' rare attacks. With the final whistle approaching, and Red Stars' fans hoping that their heros could hold out, a counter-attack led by the energetic Lakrout found MONGIN free in the penalty area, the Créteil defence failed to cover or clear and the substitute doubled Red Stars' lead, virtually ensuring the victory (2-0).
A fine win, against the run of play, admittedly, but a win nevertheless. At the end of the game the players came over to thank the supporters, a gesture much appreciated. Twelve heros on the pitch, a compact and well-coached unit. Led once again by the fine example set by captain Hamdane, who never once let up, Red Star can still hope to pull themselves out of the relegation dogfight. In goal Néret played a blinder, in front of him Hammami, Kébé, Sahridj and the impressive Korr gave very few chances to Créteil; in midfield Carles ran his heart out, Delaneuville was the instigator of several good moves, Lakrout threatened every time he had the ball at his feet, M'Boungou Matondo continues his good scoring run. Bravo and thank you, Red Star.
Red Stars' first goal: Yoann Delaneuville prepares to take the free kick, Créteils' goalie Legrand keeps the ball out on the line only for Dave M'Boungou Matondo to slam in the rebound
© AllezRedStar.com 2003