| Referee : M. Brizou, assistants M. Fautrad & M. Behague - Attendance : 700. Goals : Rangdet (2 & 9), Saci (31), Ferhaoui (35), Milton (90) – Kroupi (50), Pallier (77) Bookings : Saragaglia (15), Thiam (39), Castro (64) – Druon (62) |
You just had to be there to savour this one... widely tipped for a drubbing, given recent performances in the league, Red Star finally showed what they are capable of with a 5-2 win over Lorient, an attractive footballing outfit far removed from the dour National clubs.
Red Star caused the sensation after only two minutes, when Laurent Castros' inswinging corner was met by the youngster Yoann RANGDET, rising like a salmon to power a header home past, it has to be said taller opponents. Minutes later he doubled his tally and the score with another fine goal. Ferhaoui, having his best game since joining Red Star threaded a quality pass to the overlapping Saci, and his tidy centre was dispatched past Le Garrec by RANGDET (2-0). Lorient woke a little, but not enough to prevent Saci rattling the woodwork with a powerful shot with Le Garrec well beaten. Sacis' efforts were finally rewarded on the half-hour. It was a typical SACI goal - jinking past a couple of defenders before lobbing the goalkeeper. (3-0). No respite for Lorient as Red Star put daylight between the teams. From another corner, poorly cleared by Lorients' struggling defence, Kader FERHAOUI thumped the ball home from all of twenty five yards to make the score 4-0.
In the ten minutes or so before the pause Lorient became more threatening than was the case previously. But Red Star managed to avoid conceding a goal in this critical period, Rudy Perron heading the ball away from his own line. Five minutes after they had returned from the half-time break Lorient pulled one back, from a gross defensive error by 'keeper Branger. Left exposed for once, Brangers' game with the feet wasn't quite up to that of striker Kroupi, and the Lorient man won back the ball before lobbing a shot into the unguarded net from the edge of the box. (4-1).
Having changed their goalkeeper during half-time, the replacement Peteyrens had his gloves warmed by a rasping drive from Rangdet following a good build up by Red Star. Shortly afterwards Lorient scored a second, sending some nervous shivers through the Red Star supporters. Branger failed to hold a cross and substitute Pallier rammed the ball home. (4-2) So, two goals to score in thirteen minutes not an impossible task for the visitors, given the fragility of Red Stars' defence. But, led by Saxemard, discreet but efficient, the home side held out, and the icing on the cake came in the last seconds, as substitute MILTON, with virtually his first kick of the game, just as he did against Poissy, capped the win with a somptuous twenty-five yard curling shot, past the outstretched hand of the Lorient 'keeper. (5-2).
What a win... why can't they do that in the league ? Admittedly Lorient play an open game, attack minded as opposed to some of the National clubs avoid-losing-at-all-costs policy. Perhaps a good win for the club in more ways that one - hopefully the players can start to believe in themselves, they can do it.