-Guadeloupe turned the lights out on neighbours and francophone rivals Martinique with a 3-1 victory
Wednesday, October 15; Stade Municipal Rene Serge Nabajoth – Les Abymes, Guadeloupe: Guadeloupe turned the lights out on neighbours and francophone rivals Martinique with a 3-1 victory in the final Group F game of the Digicel Caribbean Championships.
In the most eagerly anticipated fixture of Group F, two powerhouses of Caribbean football went head to head; with bragging rights at stake for Guadeloupe and Martinique’s DCC life on the line.
It’s not often that you hear only one national anthem at the start of a game, but these Caribbean departments of France both stood to attention for their European anthem, and it was clear to all that this game was of special consequence for everyone involved.
In spite of chants of “Gwada-Boyz!” echoing through the partisan crowd, it was the Martinicians who appeared to be at ease earliest, settling into their fast moving passing game from the opening whistle.
Martinique would offer the first shot of the game in minute 5, when David Fleurival’s cross was volleyed high by Daniel Herelle.
However Herelle’s miss was soon forgotten, as in minute 18 Martinique’s sabre sharp Eric Sabin stole into the six-yard box to finish Herrelle’s free kick from the flank, and utterly silenced the stunned stadium.
At the other end Ludovic Gotin may have felt hard done by not to get a penalty; when he was taken down in the box after blowing by his man.
Minute 25 marked a turning point in the match. For all the electricity in the crowd, as well as in the clouds – flashing lightning overhead; the loss of power to the floodlights meant that the match would have to wait a further 20 minutes before the resumption of regular service.
The loss of light seemed to have benefited the Gwada-Boyz who, having trailed before the outage, surged back into contention shortly after the restart. Following a great build-up involving Fleurival and Loval, a towering header from Jean-Luc Lambourde forced Martinique’s custodian into a fine save over the bar.
Guadeloupe’s persistence paid off in minute 40 when Loval capitalised on a defensive lapse to rake home the equalizer and send the crowd into raptures.
As the half wound down, the game started to take on the look of a mud wrestling match with both teams more aggressive in their tackles. A brief altercation along the near touchline, following a strong challenge by Martinique’s captain Patrick Percin (who was already on a yellow card), provoked a little shoving match after the play.
However the halftime whistle came just in time to cool the tempers of both of these ultra competitive outfits.
The second half looked set to be a bruiser, with both teams going in at the half with bad blood between them. However it was the Gwada-Boyz that would adapt tactically, bringing on the technically gifted Cedric Collet, who had inexplicably been left off of the starting roster.
Collet proved to be just the catalyst Guadeloupe had been looking for, as within moments of his inclusion, Collet curled one in from a corner that cannoned off of the head of Mickael Antoine-Curier past a late Eddy Heurlie in goal.
That strike signalled the return of the M.A.C as Mickael Antoine-Curier had been missing from the scorer’s sheet in the previous game against Grenada, having bagged a hat-trick on his debut against the Cayman Islands. He now joins Shane Rennie and Eric Sabin as tied top scorer in the group with four goals each.
Martinique’s meltdown continued in minute 52, when Captain Partick Percin lost his cool. The most critical component of their midfield was shown a second yellow and forced to take the long walk to the dressing room amid a chorus of boo’s from the delighted Gwada-fans, who knew that Martinique would struggle without his superb vision and usually cool demeanour in these testing times. Despite the skipper’s departure, Ten-man Martinique continued to hold their own, trying to stifle Guadeloupe and force them to play through the muddied midfield.
Martinique’s tactics were successful up until minute 88 when it was again Collet that provided the inspiration: a perfectly weighted pass into the path of the advancing Ludovic Gotin meant that he hardly had to break stride between slotting past the keeper and somersaulting in celebration, with the realization that his goal had secured the victory for Guadeloupe in the French department derby.
Guadeloupe’s victory means that they qualify for the quarter finals in Jamaica atop Group F with a perfect 9 points from three games. Martinique would find themselves locked out in the DCC cold by their sibling island. While Grenada are granted access ahead of Martinique courtesy of a superior goal difference, to round off another chapter in the unparalleled sporting drama of the Digicel Caribbean Championships.
Guadeloupe: 1. Frauck Graniel, 3. Ludovic Quistin, 4. Fabien Jerome, 6. Alain Vertot, 7. Loic Loval (2. Meddy Lina – min 82), 8. Gregory Gendrey (5. Cedric Collet – min 46), 9. Ludovic Gotin, 11. Mickael Antoine-Curier (18. Giles Ian – min 89), 12. David Fleurival, 13. Jean-Luc Lambourde, 19. Willy Laurence,
Subs: 15. Miguel Comminges, 16. Marius Fausta, 17. Lery Hanany, 20. Willy Laurence,
Martinique: 24. Eddy Heurlie, 6. Johan Deluge, 12. Stephane Suedil, 15. Marc Henry Codasse, 4. Daniel Herelle (10. Michael Chosrova – min 82), 5. Patrick Percin, 8. Rodrigue Audel, 9. Eric Sabin, 11. Kevin Saint-Louis- Augustin, 18. Xavier Bullet (13. Kevin Parsemain – min 60), 20. Arnold Polomat (17. Yannick Ancarno – min 75),
Subs: 1. Arnaud Huyghes Des Etages, 14. Jean-Michel Michaud
Guadeloupe Loic Loval– min 40 Mickael Antoine-Curier– min 51 Ludovic Gotin– min 88
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3-1 |
Martinique Eric Sabin– min 18
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For match pictures and further information visit www.digicelfootball.com