NOUMEA – The race for minor premiership honours in New Caledonia’s Super Ligue has been blown wide open following a decision by the national governing body to dock AS Magenta three
points for failing to meet administrative requirements set out in the Super League regulations.
Federation Nouvelles Caledonienne de Football (FCF) has penalized two other clubs – AS Lossi and FC Gaitcha – for the same offences with both outfits also losing three points. The
decision has handed AS Magenta’s nearest rivals JS Baco a lifeline in the race for top spot despite AS Magenta destroying AS Thio Sport 8-2 at the weekend.
With FCF Super Ligue regulations awarding four points for a victory, Magenta’s efforts at the weekend earned just a single point with JS Baco’s exciting 4-2 win over AS Mont Dore in
the match of the day helping close the gap to just two points. The effect of the FCF decision has had only a minor effect on Cup-holders AS Lossi after its 8-1 win over ACB Poya with As Mont Dore’s
capitulation at JS Baco helping Lossi’s cause.
The most damaging effect of all has been upon FC Gaitcha where the loss of three points coupled with a humiliating 5-2 loss to Super Ligue strugglers ACB Poya has sent Gaitcha
straight to the bottom of the table on goal difference. The victory represents ACB Poya’s second win of the season in an otherwise traumatic campaign that has seen them occupy the bottom two spots
in the table all season.
The overall effect of the weekend’s results and the FCF decision to punish FC Gaitcha for its breach of competition regulations means the relegation issue is far from clear-cut. AS
Temala are now firmly within the sights of the bottom three teams and after hemorrhaging goals at the weekend it will be looking nervously over its shoulder as ACB Poya – buoyed by its recent
change in fortunes – seek an escape route.
ACB Poya despite its wretched season to date has dealt significant psychological blows to both AS Temala and FC Gaitcha, whom it defeated 5-2, in the race to pull clear from the
bottom of the table. FC Gaitcha will be wondering where the early promise of the 2007/08 season has disappeared too after it held 5th place by a comfortable distance just four rounds ago.
AS Thio Sport and AS Temala’s eight goal hammerings will have done little for morale for either camp with the initiative in the relegation battle all ACB Poya’s for the moment. ACB
Poya play AS Thio Sport next week in what is looming as the fixture of the round that will also see AS Temala and FC Gaitcha play AS Mont Dore and JS Baco respectively, no easy task.
The acid comes back on AS Magenta when it faces a difficult assignment against AS Lossi. With both clubs docked three points this week very little has changed in the race for playoff
spots and a fascinating match is in prospect. Magenta defeated AS Lossi 4-2 in the first round but will be more wary of a team that has found its form.
An ACB Poya defender executes a slide tackle against an FC Gaitcha striker during Poya’s 5-2 win at the weekend
Championnat SUPER LIGUE
Standings – 14.01.08
|
|
PL.
|
W
|
D.
|
L.
|
GF.
|
GA.
|
PTS.
|
GD.
|
|
AS Magenta
|
10
|
9
|
1
|
0
|
42
|
13
|
35*
|
+29
|
|
JS Baco
|
10
|
7
|
2
|
1
|
28
|
14
|
33
|
+14
|
|
AS Mont Dore
|
10
|
6
|
1
|
3
|
31
|
|
29
|
+11
|
|
AS Lossi
|
10
|
7
|
0
|
3
|
31
|
17
|
28*
|
+14
|
|
AS Temala
|
10
|
3
|
0
|
7
|
18
|
32
|
19
|
-14
|
|
ACB Poya
|
10
|
2
|
0
|
8
|
12
|
35
|
16
|
-23
|
|
AS Thio Sport
|
10
|
1
|
1
|
8
|
18
|
32
|
14
|
-14
|
|
FC Gaitcha
|
10
|
2
|
1
|
7
|
15
|
32
|
14*
|
-17
|
* AS Magenta, AS Lossi, FC Gaitcha docked three points for administrative penalties
Win = 4pts Draw = 2pts Loss = 1pt
Results; AS Magenta 8, AS Thio Sport 2; JS Baco 4, AS Mont Dore 2; FC Gaitcha 2, ACB Poya 5; AS Temala 1, AS Lossi 8.