NOUMEA – Two goals from set-plays were enough to hand defending champions AS Magenta an important 2-0 victory over Thio Sport in the Federation Caledonienne de Football (FCF) Super Ligue title chase.
The win cuts AS Mont Dore’s lead at the top of the table to a slender three points. However AS Magenta coach Alain Moizan’s title holders were made to sweat as Thio Sport dominated the second-half of a match the champions could easily have lost.
It was fortunate for the defending champions had established a 2-0 first-half lead. Noel Kaudre opened the scoring for Magenta on 26 minutes with a powerful header from a cross by Jules Wea.
Magenta went 2-0 up after Theodore Pian was adjudged to have handled the ball. Marius Bako’s initial shot was well saved by Thio Sport goalkeeper Nathanael Tanghmelen only for Bako to convert at the second attempt on 35 minutes.Thio Sport hustled the champions in a torrid second-half onslaught that had Magenta on the back foot. Magenta survived a missed penalty by Thio Sport after Magenta and Oceania All Star defender Benjamin Longue was judged to have fouled Arsene Boawe. Referee Jim Wright did not hesitate in pointing to the spot only for the normally reliable Yverick Me Boueri to send the penalty high and wide.Prior to that incident, Magenta had defended a succession of corners as they clung on desperately to their first half lead. Thio Sport coach Mickaël Mapéri conceded Magenta were superior technically but was adamant his team could have caused an upset. “Technically and tactically, Magenta were better, but with our battling qualities, there was always the possibility of getting a draw or possibly of even winning the match.We are in good form and will continue to prepare for the second part of the championship with optimism. On the penalty miss – before the match we had two appointed players for this scenario – Yverick was only third choice. I do not understand why either one of the two appointed players did not step up. The penalty miss affected the team’s morale. But despite the defeat we’ve finished on a high note in terms of performance,” Thio Sport coach Mickaël Mapéri said.“To be well organized, it is necessary to be fit and fresh and we were not by the end of the match. In first half, the team dominated the match. In second period, our lack of freshness meant that we could not run any more. The players’ concentration was not there and our ability to move the ball disappeared. We put ourselves in difficult situations, had poor ball control, and made bad choices. Thio Sport benefitted from it”, AS Magenta coach Alain Moizan said.The next fixtures in the FCF Super Ligue Nestle take place between Mouli and Lössi on Saturday January 24. AS Magenta and AS Lössi meet on Tuesday January 27. A full fixture list is scheduled for January 29. Federation Caledonienne de Football (FCF)Super Ligue NestleStandings 05.01.09
| |
PL |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
PTS |
GD |
| 1. |
AS Mont Dore |
7 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
21 |
9 |
25 |
+12 |
| 2. |
AS Magenta |
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
32 |
7 |
22 |
+25 |
| 3. |
Thio Sport |
7 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
17 |
11 |
18 |
+6 |
| 4. |
Hienghene |
7 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
19 |
15 |
17 |
+4 |
| 5. |
AS Lossi |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
20 |
7 |
15 |
+13 |
| 6. |
JS Baco |
7 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
17 |
34 |
13 |
-17 |
| 7. |
Mouli Sport |
6 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
14 |
25 |
10 |
-11 |
| 8. |
Temala |
7 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
6 |
38 |
7 |
-32 |
Win = 4 points Draw = 2 points Loss = 1 point Top Goalscorers
Kalaye GNIPATE (AS Mont Dore) 8
Stéphane MY (JS Baco) 7
Jean-Marc HMALOKO (AS Lössi) 6Paul POATINDA (AS Magenta) 6Ramon DJAMALI (AS Mont-Dore) 6Marcel MINDIA (Mouli Sport) 6
Michel HMAE (AS Magenta) 5Marcellino TEOUEI (Hienghène) 5Jacques HAEKO (AS Lössi) 5Félix TAGAWA (JS Baco) 5Jérôme WADJIGEUTH (Mouli) 5
