RED STAR 3 ARMENIENNE 5 (2-2)
COUPE DE PARIS (1/4 final)
Stade Bauer (27/04/2005)
Attendance : 120; referee : Lionel Mazurier assisted by Stéphane Philippe & Sébastien Joubert
Goals : Akoun (24 og), Gassama (35), Marques (55) - Bonron (20, 65 & 89), Akoun (36), Davidson (70)
Substitutions : Ba by Gassama (32), Marques by Da Cruz (80) - Macesian by El Zayati (46), Masseron by Zadikian (46), Same by Koloka (61)
RED STAR : Mama (1), Liheouel (2), Diallo (3), M. Hamdani (4), Ararouche (5), Budoc (6), Ba (7), Chamma (8), Baldé (9), Marques (10), Aklouche (11), Diawara (12), Da Cruz (13), Gassama (14). Coach : Jean-Luc Girard
ARMENIENNE : Ngako (1), Murat (2), Boukhanaouche (3)n Masseron (4), Dickenson (5), Mocesian (6), Chalqi (7), Davidson (8), Bonron (9), Akoun (10), Samé (11), Koloka (12), El Zayati (13), Zadikian (14). Coach : Jean-Pierre Orts
Majdi Liheouel
YOUNGSTERS GO OUT FIGHTING
Red Stars' youngsters made their bow from the Coupe de Paris after a valiant performance against a very strong Arménienne side. Coach Jean-Luc Girard had wisely decided to rest his first team squad ahead of the critical championship match against Meaux on Saturday, but alongside bright prospects Aklouche, Ba et al several "old hands" such as Alhadji Baldé, Jérémy Budoc and Phil Marques were there to add experience. From the outset Red Star took the game to the visitors, procuring the best of the early exchanges, especially Baldé, Aklouche and Chamma sporting a new haircut which made him barely recognisable for certain spectators ! Somewhat against the run of play Arménienne scored, the pacy Davidson crossing for Bonron to slide past Hamdani and open his scoring account. Minutes later and Red Star were back on level terms as the combative Chamma forced vastly experienced Akoun, helping out in defence, to run the ball into his own goal (1-1).
On the half hour Ba limped off to be replaced by Gassama, and this proved to be an inspired substution. It took the Red Star striker just three minutes to enthral the decent-sized crowd with a powerful run and and unstoppable shot past ex-Red Star juniors goalkeeper Ngako (2-1). But the lead was only to last one minute as Akoun found acres of space in Red Stars' defence to plant a low shot past the stranded Salifou-Mama. (2-2).
Half time, plenty of first half entertainment and more goals than at Stamford Bridge ! After the break Red Stars' defence capsized hoplessly, and at times Hamdani was the last man alone against a sea of white shirts. But whilst being caught short in defence, Red Stars' all-out attack policy was causing real problems for the visitors, despite the marshalling of the excellent Dickenson in defence. Marques gave Red Star the lead yet again following good work from Baldé. (3-2). But ten minutes later, and Arménienne were back on level terms, Bonron doubling his tally with a neat curling shot past Mama. (3-3). Then came the turning point of the game as Red Stars' goalkeeper appeared to have been fouled as he lost grip of the ball and Davidson tapped the ball into the empty net. The referee allowed the goal to stand much to the disgust of the vociferous local supporters (3-4).
Red Star pressed and Ngako pulled off a magnificent flying save to deny Gassama then dived bravely in the feet of Baldé. Finally Bonron completed his hat-trick and killed off Red Stars' hopes with a fifth goal just before the final whistle. For the visitors the Coupe de Paris obviously has greater significance than for Red Star. No less than eight players in the side last night were in the starting line up for the championship game at Issy earlier this month. With safety virtually assured in the DH, the club coached by Orts hope to win this trophy to salvage something from an indifferent season. Red Star have bigger fish to fry.
© AllezRedStar.com 2005