SAINT-LEU 2 RED STAR 0 (2-0)
Division D'Honneur Week 8
Stade Municipal, 9/11/2003
Goal : Mota (9), Hamdani (30)
Attendance : 250 - referee : M. Delaveau
Booked : Jalliti (38)
SAINT-LEU : Miriel, Hamdoune, Gousset, Zizi, Ndah (Touré 74), Sadik, Mounissamy, Yabas, Hamdani (Diallo 82), Guyonnot (M’Barek 73), Mota. Coach: J.M. Sabbatini
RED STAR : Germain, Carles, Diomande, Cuervo, Guei, Benmesmoudi (N’Simba 59), Delaneuville, Jalliti (Gassama 65), Latt-Agnes, Desmarets, Hiroux. Sub: Budoc. Coach: A. Meguellatti.
AllezRedStar.com man of the match - Mickaël Germain
Mota, left and Carles, right
WHEN WILL WE SCORE AGAIN ?
Red Stars' inability to put the ball into the back of the net was once again their undoing at a cloudy Saint-Leu yesterday. The only time that the visitors' succeded in bulging Bruno Miriels' net, the referee had already stopped the game to give a free-kick to Red Star on the edge of the penalty area. So where was the advantage ? Had Yoann Delaneuvilles' beautifully-struck shot which curled into the top corner stood, then the outcome of the game might have been different.
As it was, Saint-Leu were already two up at this point. In the sixth minute, the veteran Mota had shook off the challenge of Cuervo to slot the ball home past Germain, then on the half-hour a free kick from Mota struck the Red Star wall and landed kindly for Hamdani to pop home the rebound. After that St Leu defended and tried to hit Red Star on the counter.
After the pause, with Red Stars' travelling contingent perched high on a bank overlooking the goal, and making a fair amount of noise, let it be said, most of the action took place under their noses, with Germain rarely threatened. However, despite much huffing and puffing, the Red Star forwards failed to make a mark. Either that, or it was an unlucky bounce or a defender sticking a leg in the way that kept the score at zero.
At the end of the game the players acknowledged the Red Star supporters, who stuck it out 'till the end - St Leu are of the "sing when we're winning" type, it appears.
Performance wise, Germain probably deserves the man of the match accolade for his shot stopping, keeping out a couple of decent shots, and for keeping hopes alive. Other than that, André, Latt-Agnes toiled had up front, creating some good chances as well as dominating in the air - for a big lad, he is surprisingly mobile. Hiroux had a bad day at the office, let's just write it off to that. Diomande, as he did at Meaux, took too long to get into the game, and by that time St Leu were already two up. Desmarets could also have been a challenger for man of the match. Never mind, St Leu are one of the favourites, let's try and get maximum points next week at Bauer against Brétigny.
Left: Red Star attack; right Red Star and Mickael Germain defend
Left, Red Star warm up, and right, the subs N’Simba, Budoc & Gassama
Left, the supporters' cabin at Saint-Leu, and right, the free match programme
© AllezRedStar.com 2003