RED STAR 3 RACING 0
Division Honneur - Week 21
Stade Bauer, 28/03/2004
Goals : Gueï (8), Yessad (42), Hammami (68)
Referee : Miss Frappart - Attendnace : 400
Booked: Hammami (87) - Soulas (58), Boutadjine (67), Mérini (90 +3)
RED STAR : Germain, Hammami, Dao (Yessad 31), Diomande (Gassama 85), Fourneuf, N’Simba, Delaneuville, Fellahi (Budoc 75), Gueï, Desmarets, Baldé. Coach: J.L. Girard.
RACING : Gato, Clavier, Tagba (Sousa 69), Mérini, Soulas (Pinto 69), Chauvet, Izquierdo, Boutadjine, Kwedi Mbongo, Merrouche, Jacquet. Coach: F. Lipka.
AllezRedStar.com man of the match : HAMMAMI
INFINITELY BETTER !
What a contrast to the dross served up last week. Three goals, and perhaps one of the best Red Star performances for a long time. Whereas Delaneuvilles' boys had struggled against talentless Meaux last week, a team hell bent on not losing, this week against a footballing side Red Star performed to a much higher level with a resounding victory as a prize.
In any game in the DH, an early goal is crucial, and for once Red Star didn't disappoint. Racing may have reson to contest the validity of the goal, it was a case of 1966 revisited as did the ball cross the line when big Franck Guei powered his way past the Racing defence to fire the ball goalwards from a narrow angle. The referee and her assistants appeared to agree with GUEI and the goal stood. (1-0)
This settled the home side, and with the defence looking composed, Fourneuf especially, Racing failed to find an early way back into the game. Youssouf Doa limped on the half hour to be replaced by Nabile Yessad, no doubt the injury sustained at Colombes earlier in the season was in his mind. Red Star continued to procure some good chances; when the Racing goalie overstepped his eighteen yard line, Yoann Delaneuville saw his powerful free kick defelected away to safety. As the interval aproached, Girards' men continued to stamp their domination on the game, and from a Desmarets' corner, sub YESSAD rose majestically above the Racing defence to plant a powerful header into the net (2-0).
Two nil up at the break and well deserving their advantage. After the break much the same, although Racing threatened to pull one back, another defender Bilal HAMMAMI put the game beyond the reach of Racing with a third goal, a speculative long-rang volley that looped over the goalkeeper and into the net. (3-0).
The game reached its conclusion with no further goals, although Budoc had a great chance to score a fourth in the dying minutes. Four crucial points for the Red Star, four points towards safety.
Finally a word about the referee, for once a young lady. Mlle. Frappart had a very good game, very few bookings, no real dissent towards her, but Racing were guilty of haranguing her assistants. In fact the Penguins never stopped giving it chat all the way through the game, and at times reverted to trying to get Red Stars' players booked. Not particularly sporting.
© AllezRedStar.com 2004