Tigers secured another victory against Rovers FC in their recent encounter at Stad Popiler. The match, a rematch after 40 days, ended in a 2-1 triumph for Tigers, marking their second win over Rovers this season.
Rovers FC took an early lead in the 14th minute with a goal from Abdul Jumaye. Tigers intensified their pressure towards the end of the first half but failed to find the net. Notably, Tigers’ head coach received a yellow card in the 35th minute following repeated warnings from the referee.
In the second half, Tigers continued their relentless attacking approach from the closing stages of the first period. Their persistence paid off when Marcus Esparon found the back of the net in the 69th minute. Just six minutes later, Clariel added another goal, securing a 2-1 lead for Tigers. The players celebrated their well-deserved second goal in front of their fans, though the moment was marred by some provocative behavior towards the Rovers bench.
However, an incident occurred in the 82nd minute, leaving match officials with a challenging decision. Red cards were shown to Rovers’ captain Norvil Gaspard and Tigers’ Mario Matombe, while yellow cards were given to Kim Chang-Tak Hue, Remy De ketelaere, and Nick Labiche.
This incident echoes a similar event involving Tigers 10 months ago during their match against Perseverance. On that occasion, Tigers’ Kim Chang-Tak Hue received a red card, and the game had to be abandoned due to a major brawl on the field. In contrast, Rovers’ coaching staff handled the situation well this time, successfully defusing tensions even when some rowdy Tigers fans approached the field to show their ‘support’. The final minutes of the match can be described as an organised circus.
Once again, Rovers FC showcased their dominance with higher ball possession, more connected passes, and more shots on goal, but they were unable to convert their advantage into points, although it’s fair to acknowledge that Tigers also deserved their share of the spoils.
Ultimately, Tigers claimed all three points, bolstering their position in the league. They now sit five points ahead of Bel Air and appear poised to secure a place in the Playoff matches against Premier League teams. This victory holds great importance for Tigers as they continue their pursuit of promotion.
Tigers Starting XI:
#1 Bastia Eddit
#7 Marcus Esparon
#2 Achille Simeon
#4 Rafaelo Cecile
#5 Clariel Rokotondramananitra
#10 Kim Chang-Tak-Hue
#11 Mario Matombe
#13 Raphael Madeleine
#15 Bertrand Esther
#18 Zinola Francois
#20 Emmanuel Nyamawi
Substitutes:
#3 Dwaine Mederick
#8 Imran Lesperance
#9 Phidellio Moustache
#14 Oliver Camille
#17 Ravin Valentin
#21 Wilnest Lyroy Bernet Francoise
#30 Gressen Herve Louis
Rovers FC Starting XI:
#28 Adrian Andrew Clarisse
#20 Norvil Ronny Gaspard
#8 Lucas Panayi
#9 Shu’aib Ernesta
#12 Javis Ladouce
#13 Abdul Jumaye
#14 Verron Anil Jefferson Harrison
#22 Christiano Louis
#23 Remy De ketelaere
#25 Musa Njie
#30 Nick France Labiche
Substitutes:
#1 Rohan Orphe
#3 Oneil Pointe
#7 Joshua Clarisse
#10 Rhio Randel Ram Damoo
#19 Dayne Jean-Baptiste
#32 Stephano Bibi
#33 Carlos Nibourette
