RED STAR 4 MORANGIS-CHILLY : 0 (ht 1-0)
DH (round 16)
Stade Bauer 06/02/2005
Attendance : 350 - referee Frédéric Léonardi assisted by Valérie Boulestin & Jean-Luc Duchêne
Goals : Tandia (31, 73), Abdallah (66), Hammami (83)
Booked : Fourneuf (38), Hammami (65) - Louyer (49), Cavalier (66)
Subs : Cuervo by Budoc (77), Benmesmoudi by Baldé (83), Ouattara by Aklouche (86) - Bachiri by Raguel (46) Chulliat by Farina (54), Laffaure by Dolius (63)
RED STAR : Bell (1), Hammami (2), Diomande (3), Gueï (4), Fourneuf (5), N’Simba (6), Ouattara (7), Abdallah (8), Tandia (9), Benmesmoudi (10), Cuervo (11), Budoc (12), Aklouche (13), Baldé (14).
Coach : Jean-Luc Girard
MORANGIS-CHILLY : Makeba (1), Fortems (2), Dolius (3), Louyer (4), Rodrigues (5), Ngaibona (6), Chulliat (7), Dia (8), Bachiri (9), Cavalier (10), Farina (11), Laffaure (12), Raguel (13), Diawara (14). Coach : Stéphane Cabrelli
Bilal Hammami & Reevis N’Simba
THATS ENTERTAINEMENT
Red Star needed to win this one, and that they did, with some aplomb. I enjoyed this one, hugely entertaining stuff on a cold but sunny February afternoon.
However, for half an hour or so, it appeared that it was going to be the same old story for Red Star. Despite overwhelming domination, the greens seemed destined to be repelled by the brilliant Makeba, surely one of the finest goalkeepers seen at Bauer this season. N’Simba (16), Tandia (18), Tandia again (27) following great work by Benmesmoudi all failed to find the target or were denied by the visitors keeper. At the other end Morangis threatened to do what so many visiting teams have done at Bauer with a curing free kick, deftly parried away by the flying Bell, not to be outdone by his rival at the other end. Just afterwards came the deliverance, as TANDIA finally found an inch of space to fire the ball past Makeba (1-0).
Abdallah came close to doubling the lead three minutes later before Makeba had to dive bravely at the feet of the ever-dangerous Tandia. Cuervo thumped a beauty against the bar and unmarked benmesmoudi was deceived by the bouncing rebound and headed just over.
The visitors must have been relieved to go in at the break only one goal in arrears. After the pause they actually came out at Red Star, and for five minutes or so threatened to equalise. With ten minutes gone Diomande made a howler of a mistake in defence to let in Morangis, but Fourneuf and Bell somehow prevented the visitors from drawing level. This steadied the ship a little, and finally ABDALLAH was rewarded for his craft with a low powerful drive from a tight angle depite the visitors' claims for offside (2-0). Red Star now stared to run riot and Benmesmoudi really ought to have done better from close range, the ball just squirming away from him. Cuervo was again denied by a flying save from Makeba before a simple Red Star move put the game out of Morangis' reach for good. Fourneuf pumped the ball forwards to Benmesmoudi who flicked the ball on with his head into the path of TANDIA who buried the ball into the net (3-0). As Morangis tired, a poor backpass was cleared by Makeba but only onto the head of Bilal HAMMAMI and the rebound ended up in the net for the fourth time (4-0).
Game over, four vital points for Red Stars' faltering promotion push at an important time.
For a man of the match perhaps the outstanding contribution came from Philippe Cuervo, making a mockery of his years with a superb all-round performance, driving Red Star forwards, magnificent distribution and above all a huge inspiration for his young team mates. Reevis N'Simba seemed to find a renewed energy and confidence alongside Cuervo, whilst out on the left wing Ouattara made it a nightmare afternoon for the Morangis full-back Fortems, but at times some of the crosses found no-one in particular. Pity. Hammami again shone with an enormous work rate and a rage to win everything - is he really only 20 years old ? Benmesmoudi also was a nuisance to the visitors and also gave a solid contribution in terms of work rate.
In the battle of the marksmen, Red Stars' Tandia easily outshone Morangis' Diawara, who was strangely silent throughout the game.
So, four points, nice to bounce back after the disappointment against Cosmo. Let's keep it going !
© AllezRedStar.com 2005