MATCH REPORTS 2004-2005  RED STAR FC 93

RED STAR 3 FLEURY-MEROGIS 3 (aet, 4-5 pens)
Coupe de France - round 5
Stade Bauer 17/10/04

Attendance : 250 - referees : Serge Poupet assisted by Serge Krieft & Jean Paverdy - heavy rain, sunshine

Goals : N’Simba (77), Tandia (89), Gassama (116) - Oliviera (36), NGoma (87), Zuili (97)
Penalties scored : N’Simba, Abdallah, Tandia, Gassama - Hardiagan, Delandre, Liévin, Lenfant, Pirlot
Missed : Fourneuf

Booked : Sinobad (60), N’Simba (65), Gassama (116) - Zubelli (20) Dos Santos (41) Lenfant (90 +3), Fontaine (101), Zuili (104)
Sent off : Dos Santos (109), Zuili (109)
Subs : Benmesmoudi by Gassama (77), Gueï by Budoc (83), Baldé by Chamma (111) - Oliviera by Delandre (68), Lesbir by Zuili (87), NGoma by Cordier (88)

RED STAR : Bell (1), Diomande (2), Gueï (3), Yessad (4), Fourneuf (5), N’Simba (6), Sinobad (7), Abdallah (8), Tandia (9), Benmesmoudi (10), Baldé (11), Budoc (12), Chamma (13), Gassama (14). Coach : Jean-Luc Girard
FLEURY-MEROGIS : Cagnati (1), Dos Santos (2), Liévin (3), Fontaine (4), Hardiagan (5), Zubelli (6), Lenfant (7), Pirlot (8), NGoma (9), Lesbir (10), Oliveira (11), Delandre (12), Cordier (13), Zuili (14), Lanflisi (16). Coach : Olivier Malfroid

Red Star - Fleury Mérogis
Abdallah sets up N’Simba who scores Red Stars' first through a sea of players

RIP ROARER - BUT RED STAR GO OUT

To a neutral spectator this was a true cup tie - loads of goals, extra time, sendings off, a mud bath and a penalty shoot out to decide things.
But the most bizarre thing about this contest is was that it was basically one-sided. Despite the fact that Red Star had to claw themselves back into this tie three times. It could appear that Fleury controlled the game, but nothing could be further from the truth. Straight from the kick off Red Star tore into their visitors, and really should have been been tow up early doors. But a certain complacency crept into Red Star, and from Fleurys' first real attack they took the lead. Ten minutes before the break, the visitors' managed to construct a decent move down their right, and from a hopeful shot-cum-centre by Oliviera, the ball was deflected into his own net by Nabile Yessad (0-1). The goal fired Red Star up and the one-way traffic was soon resumed. Moments before the pause the heavens opened, and both sets of players were drenched by a torrential downpour, which sent your reporter scurrying into the relative dryness of the old players' tunnel.
After the break, Red Star dominated again, but at times looked a little lethargic, at times over elaborate and at times over confident. In defence never threatened, but going forwards a lack of finishing power kept the score in Fleurys' favour. Red Stars' equaliser came from a spot of confusion in the Fleury penalty area. The referee awarded an indirect free kick on the six yard line to Red Star. Fleury built a wall on the line with one or two green shirts interloping; Abdallah tapped the ball to N'SIMBA who fired once, the ball was deflected back to Red Stars' captain who made no mistake with the second shot (1-1). Once more the greens poured forwards in search of a kill, but with three minutes remaining an awful offside decision missed by the officials left N'Goma on his own. Yann Bell in Red Stars' goal hesitated to come out of his box, and this was enough to give the Fleury man the chance to virtually seal the game for his team. (1-2).
But Red Star are made of sterner stuff and with only one minute remaining, the hard-working Abdallah fired in a cross for the remarkable scoring machine TANDIA to continue his run of goals. (2-2). No further goals so extra time was to be played.
Again Red Star domination without making inroads into a well-organised defence. Midway through the first period of extra time the Fleury bench were once again jumping for joy as substitute Zuili took advantage of a moment's hesitation in the home defence to give his side what appeard to be the final say in the game (2-3). But the strikers' joy was to be somewhat tempered midway through the second period of fifteen minutes. Firstly he was booked after a strong challenge on a Red Star player, then minutes later was involved in an incident which saw him taking an early bath. Under the eyes of referee Mr Poupet Dos Santos flattened the tricky Abdallah with a rash tackle - nothing really dirty but just a bit clumsy with tiring legs and a talented opponent. As it was the players' second yellow he had to go. However Zuili took his protests one step too far and the man in the middle had no choice but to dismiss the Fleury player. Reduced to nine men Fleury desperately tried to hang on to their lead, resorting to hoofing the ball anywhere forwards with all men in defence. Eventually Red Stars' dominance had to pay off, and it came through substitute GASSAMA, who threw himself at a Abdallah cross to deflect the ball into the net amid scenes of pandemonium amongst the Red Star supporters (3-3). It was the least Red Star deserved for all their efforts.
So on to the spot kicks. Captain Reevis N'Simba got things rolling with a half-hit penalty which the Fleury goalkeeper nearly got to but the ball still entered the net. The visitors equalised, Abdallah rifled home a perfect penalty. Again Fleury drew level with an excellent kick, Bell having no chance. Up stepped a nervous Vince Fourneuf, who duly scraped his shot past Cagnatis' right-hand post. That was the turning point, and despite Tandia and Gassama making no mistake, Fleury stayed cool enough to despatch all of their remaining kicks.
Disappointment for Red Star, they deserved more for their endeavour. Once again robbed by an unimaginative side bent on negativity and the counter-attack. Three attacks and three goals - one of which was an offside and one was an own goal. Still, Red Star are free to concentrate on the championship now, starting with a tricky task at home next Sunday to struggling Orly who have sacked their coach and will be looking to stifle Red Stars' gameplan.

© AllezRedStar.com 2004

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