VILLEMOMBLE 1 RED STAR 1
Division Honneur - week 18
Stade Georges Pompidou, 29/02/04
Goals : El Hadri (59)- Guei (34)
Booked : Yamou (45) Bamba (70) - Cuervo (66)
Att: 300 spectateurs - referee : M. Delaveau
VILLEMOMBLE : Lacour, Bamba, Akabla (Massengo 87), Yamou, Santos, Dimosi (Ben Najah 58), El Hadri, Lablack, Gnemagnon, Do Novo, Dardelet (Otmani 74). Coach: A. Mboma
RED STAR : Germain, Cuervo, Hammami, Yessad, Fourneuf, N’Simba, Delaneuville, Fellahi, Guei, Desmarets, Baldé. Subs: Dao, Marques & Budoc. Coach : J.L. Girard
AllezRedStar.com man of the match: Fourneuf
Jean-Luc Girard & Yoann Delaneuville anxious for Mikaël Germain, hurt by a Villemomble player
WHAT IF...
In the continuing series of life's great "What ifs", Red Star might just wonder what might have happened if Riad Fellahis' powerful second half-shot had gone into the net rather than rebounded off the post...
As it turns out, minutes later Villemomble drew level with Red Stars players appealing for off-side. At 2-0 the game would probably have been all over given Red Stars' large domination of the first period. The greens had taken the lead deservedly just after the half-hour thanks to the determination, physical presence and persistence of Franck Guei. A neat through ball released Red Stars' defender-turned-striker, and GUEI rounded the Villemomble goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the empty net. It was the least that the visitors deserved for their efforts.
Just after the break big Franck stormed off down the left, played the ball across just behind Alhadji Balde into the path of Riad Fellahi. Unfortunately Riads' powerful drive thwacked the upright before rebounding to safety.
Shortly afterwards, a quickly-taken free kick on Villemombles' left caught Red Stars' defence static, and El Hadri was presented with a face-to-face with Germain, and the home striker made no mistake to level the scores. (1-1).
Red Star had to weather a storm and with Messrs Cuervo, Hammami, Yessad and Fourneuf in fine form the line reamined unbreached. In the seventieth minute, Germain pulled off a fine save to deny Villemomble, but a striker left a foot trailing and caught the Red Star goalie a nasty blow. Anxious moments for the visitors, but in the end Germain was in a fit state to continue the game, albeit slightly groggy and unable to take goal kicks. From our viewpoint it appeared that Micka was caught, but some of the more partisan home supporters carried on vilifying the referee and Red Stars' goalie. The subsequent yellow card for Bamba served to aggravate their ire. Considering that Roy Keane went for an early bath last week in a similar incident, perhaps Villemomble could count themselves luck to have finished the game with a full compliment of eleven men.
The last minutes were nail biting as the home side went in search of the kill, but Red Stars' back line held fine, aided by a fine display from captain Yoann Delaneuville who appeared to be everywhere on the pitch, playing a true leaders' role. The referee added on ten minutes for stoppages, but at the end it was Red Star who appeared to be the stronger finisher. A fair point. On a freezing cold afternoon, a good days' work for Red Star.
SOME PHOTOS
Goooal ! Franck Guei celebrates, Baldé (11), Fellahi (8) & Desmarets (10) join in.
A good sized crowd watch Nabile Yessad Vincent Fourneuf and Philippe Cuervo
Mikaël Germain is treated for injury; Eric Charrier assists at the final whistle
Former Red Star man Santos tackeld by Fellahi & Baldé
© AllezRedStar.com 2004