RED STAR 1 SAINT-LEU 0 (ht 1-0)
Division Honneur - week 19
Stade Bauer, 07/03/04
Goals : Baldé (7)
Referee : M. Rosio - attendance 300
Booked : Baldé (49), Hammami (55 & 68), Cuervo (73) - Goudjil (64), Hamdoune (65), Mota (77)
Sent off : Hammami (68)
RED STAR : Germain, Cuervo, Dao, Hammami, Fourneuf, N’Simba, Delaneuville, Fellahi, Guei (Budoc 82), Desmarets (Yessad 72), Baldé (Marques 56). Coach: J.L. Girard.
SAINT-LEU : Miriel, Baraket, Hamdoune (Moysan 80), Ndah, Goujet, Sadik, Zizi, Yabas, Hamdani, Guyonnot (Mota 28), Diallo (Goudjil 23). Coach: J.M. Sabbatini.
AllezRedStar.com Man of the match : Philippe Cuervo
Final whistle and Messrs Guei, Desmarets and Baldé get ready to celebrate
A HOME WIN - AT LAST !
For the first time since October 2003, Red Stars' youngsters took all the points from a closely-fought encounter at Stade Bauer. The solitary goal victory over high-flying Saint-Leu also ended the visitors' superb unbeaten away record so far this season.
Red Star tore into Saint-Leu straight from the kick-off, and deservedly took the lead on seven minutes when a free-kick was neatly headed on by Riad Fellahi into the path of BALDE, whos piledriving shot beat the visitors' keeper, going into the net off the underside of the bar. (1-0).
Earlier Philippe Cuervo had signalled Red Stars' intentions to win the game with a powerful run down the right, and moments after the goal, performed the same feat, but his pin-point cross managed to elude the onrushing Fellahi. Saint-Leu really had been let off the hook, and this enabled them to gradually work their way back into the game. But nevertheless Red Stars' defence stood firm, with Cuervo and Fourneuf outstanding. Going forwards Red Star always looked dangerous, especially with the burly Franck Guei proving to be real handful for N'Dah, the latter resorting to some theatrics to win free kicks. The early introduction of Walquir Motta failed to reap rewards for the visitors and his main contribution to proceedings was to receive a yellow card for raising a foot as Germain attempted a clearance.
In the second half Saint-Leu once again shaded affairs, but with Germain in fine form despite last weeks' injury, and Fourneuf, Dao, Hammami and Cuervo at the peak of their games, the route to goal eluded the blues. Just after the hour Bilal Hammami brought down Hamdane and was subsequently booked. A quarter of an hour later another rash challenge coupled with the protests of the St Leu players earned Hammmai a second yellow and for the first time this season Red Star were reduced to ten men.
Saint-Leu piled forwards but with the equally excellent Yessad filling the gap in the defence and Yoann Deleneuville leading his men by example once again, there was no way that Girards' men were going to give up the hard-fought win. Special mention here to Pipo Marques, a lone striker as Red Star pulled men back, but his incredibly hard work in running at a tiring St-Leu defence offered some respite to his overworked team-mates. In fact Budoc and Marques had a couple of half-chances late on to seal the win.
Fantastic result, give the lads a load of confidence to go forwards, and with the next two games coming up against teams at the wrong end of the table, Red Star could possibly ease any remaining relegation worries once and for all.
© AllezRedStar.com 2004