RED STAR 2 EVRY 0 (1-0)
DIVISION HONNEUR
Stade Bauer (08/05/2005)
Attendance : 800 - referee : Luc Chevereau assisted by Gérard Tardy & Jérôme Nguyen
Goals : Tandia (19 & 75)
Subs : Cuervo by Abdallah (57), Tandia by Chamma (83) - Kali by Ouedraogo (46), Lourenço by Mahaly (12), Mabrouk by Thévenot (78)
Booked : Tounkara (15) - Mabrouk (31)
RED STAR : Bell (1) - Hammami (2), Diomande (3), Tounkara (4), Fourneuf (5) - N'Simba (6), Ouattara (7), Abdallah (8), Tandia (9), Cuervo (10), Benmesmoudi (11), Yessad (12), Chamma (13), Hamme (14). Coach : Jean-Luc Girard
EVRY : Picard (1), Vega (2), MBéga (3), Ouedraogo (4), Touré (5), Kali (6), Lourenço (7), Mabrouk (8), NDiagreni (9), M’Belizi (10), Ainon (11), Mahaly (12), Fort (13, Thévenot (14). Coach : Bernard Touret
Aboubacar Tandia sends Red Star on their way with the first goal
CHAMPIONS !
So Red Star have finally done it. After six troubled years and four relegations, the fans finally have something to celebrate. But for this final match of the season at Bauer nerves were to the fore, on both sides and it clearly showed. Evry came needing points in their battle to avoid the drop whilst Red Star were just one win away from being champions.
For the first twenty minutes the nerves really began to show. Yann Bell was called into action on the quarter of an hour, and the length of Red Stars' supporters fingernails started to diminish rapidly. But Red Star 2005 have the right men for the job. Philippe Cuervo, with an enormous influence in a vital midfield position, Reevis N'Simba, captain with the weight lifted from his shoulders thanks to the presence of Cuervo alongside, the livewire Bourama Ouattara on the wing and up front the goalmachine Aboubacar Tandia. These were all involved in the build up to the goal that sent Red Star on their way. Ouattara crossed, Evry failed to deal effectively with the lanky striker TANDIA who fired an unstoppable shot to give Red Star the lead (1-0).
The sigh of relief that the goal produced probably could have been heard all across the city. An important goal at an important moment. Evry pushed forwards, and menaced Yann Bells' goal on more than one occasion. M’Bélizi lost out to his nerves in a one-on-one against Bell, screwing his shot wide of the post as Red Star watched on; Kali had another golden opportunity which was duly wasted. At the other end Jimmy Hammes' athletic bicycle kick flew just wide, Benmesmoudi over the bar, Ouattara had a go and big defender Tounkara headed just over.
After the break more tension; Philippe Cuervo limped out of the action to a standing ovation on probably his last appearance at Stade Bauer. As Evry tired, Red Star found new energy, and with fifteen minutes remaining booked their ticket to the CFA 2 with another TANDIA effort, poaching in the penalty area as a poor clearance left him with only the goalkeeper to beat. (2-0). So the party began. In the last minutes Evry could have pulled one back but Red Stars' defence was alert to the danger.
Impossible to single out any one Red Star player - this is a solid group who work together as a unit. For Evry, special mention to the left-back MBéga who played a blinder despite everything. A clean game, no bad fouls, no nastiness and a credit to both clubs.
A big thank you to Mishi & Roger from Dulwich who travelled across for the game, unbeknown to me, to make it a nice surprise on the day - cheers lads !
Fantastic. A magnificent effort from a squad of players who have progressed beyond recognition and whom have turned the club around completely. From a dying club to champions, this is a moment to savour for a long time. There may be promotions in the future (I hope so !!!) but this is a truly important one. After years of decline the tide has turned.
AllezRedStar !
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