SAINT-LEU 1 RED STAR 2 (ht 0-0)
DIVISION HONNEUR
Stade Municipal 20/03/2005
Attendance : 200 - referee Alain Lissorgue assisted by Jean-Yves Banare & Michel Nicolas
Booked : Guérin (28), Goudjil (29) - Hamdani (66), Fourneuf (67)
Goals : Goujet (54) - Benmesmoudi (57, 90+3)
Substitutions : Mounissamy by Hamdoune (72), Diallo by Yabas (72) - Abdallah by Hamme (72), Fourneuf by Diomande (81)
SAINT-LEU : 1-Grandin, 2-Traoré, 3-Guérin, 4-Sadi, 5-Goujet, 6-Luissint, 7-Goudjil, 8-Mounissamy, (cap.), 9-Sylla, 10-Shatrit, 11-Diallo. Subs : 12-A.Sylla, 13-Hamdoune, 14-Yabas Coach : Jean-Marc Sabbatini
RED STAR FC 93 : 1-Bell, 2-Hamdani, 3-Gueï, 4-Yessad, 5-Fourneuf, 6-N'Simba, 7-Ouattara, 8-Abdallah, 9-Tandia, 10-Cuervo, 11-Benmesmoudi. Subs : 12-Diomande, 13-Baldé, 14-Hamme. Coach : Jean-Luc Girard
93rd minute, Azzedine Benmesmoudis' header seals the game for Red Star
FAN-TASTIC
Last weekend following the Aubervilliers game, AllezRedStar.com asked for more memorable weekends like the one that we had just experienced. Well, for once our prayers were anwered, although at times the supporters had their hearts in their mouths.
A classic top-of-the table encounter played in glorious conditions, full sunshine and Summer-like temperatures. Add to that Red Stars' amazing away support, a "proper" football stadum (no running track, three stands) and the ingredients were in place for a classic.
A goalless first half, honours even in terms of posession and domination. Red Star managed to get the three best chances, Cuervo firing wide, Fourneuf driving a powerful free kick which was turned away by the goalkeeper, and Cuervo again missed the target. In reply, a lovely flowing move from the home side culminated in a sweet shot turned away to safety by the agility of Yann Bell.
The second half opened with Saint-Leu looking brighter, and despite Tandia going close, it was the men from the Val d'Oise who took the lead. The referee, who had incurred the wrath of the Red Star fans previously awarded a free kick to Saint-Leu in a dangerous place. Vince Fourneuf was adjudged to have lifted a foot too high in performing an acrobatic clearance, and from the free kick Goujets' drive was deviated past Yann Bell (1-0). Credit to Red Star, they were unwaved by the goal, and seven minutes later, the excellent Azzedine BENMESMOUDI was rewarded with a goal for his hard work, shooting diagonally past the Saint-Leu goalie. (1-1)
Red Star applied more pressure as Saint-Leu were driven back; Ouattara set up Tandia only for Grandin to save. With the minutes ticking down, only eight minutes left on the clock, Red Stars' fans though that the game was won as Benmesmoudi again got past his marker to loop a header over the goalkeeper, only for the referee to rule out the goal, Jimmy Hamme being in an offside position.
More nervous moments for Red Star came deep into stoppage time as the home side were awarded yet another free kick in a dangerous position. Red Star pulled men back to defend, but Yann Bell decided to send Benmesmoudi forwards out of the wall in order to support the lone Tandia. A brilliant move, as the free kick came to nothing. Cuervo brought the ball clear, and in a lovely move BENMESMOUDI sent the fans wild with a powerful header that once again Grandin was powerless to stop. (1-2).
Scenes of pandemonium on the terraces, smoke flares and the lot set off. Finally Red Star held out the last seconds to deserve their victory.
A short break follows now, but after the Easter pause, Red Star will be looking to build on this marvellous work with the visit of Versailles to Bauer.
Bravo Red Star.
© AllezRedStar.com 2005