ST LOUIS suffered their second defeat in the ongoing Triangular tournament, losing 0-5 to IF Elfsborg of Sweden on Wednesday January 21 at Stad Linite.

Coach Marc Mathiot's St Louis, who suffered a 0-3 loss against League champions St Michel in the first match of the competition last Saturday, enjoyed early possession but could not trouble the Swedes whose rock-solid defence was the key behind their success.

The Saints supporters, who had come in numbers to see how their team fare after the loss against St Michel, witnessed some fast-paced and constructive football by their side in the first 25 minutes of play.

The Swedish Cup champions, who took time to get into the match, scored on their very first move in the 28th minute. St Louis' young central defender Terry Créa was robbed of the ball just outside the six-yard box by Jonas Lundén. The tireless midfielder played a neat pass to Samuel Holmén who tucked the ball home for a 1-0 lead.

After the goal, IF Elfsborg upped the tempo and almost went two goals up in the 35th minute. Hans Berggren rounded a St Louis defender before shooting straight at Kenyan goalie Roy Onyango who missed his team's match against St Michel with a shoulder injury.

Onyango was beaten for the second time in the 36th minute as he failed to come anywhere near Andreas Drugge's fierce volley.

In the second half, Swedish coach Magnus Haglund's boys continued on the same note and hard-working Daniel Alexandersson got at the end of a Lunden through-ball but his effort was parried into corner by Onyango.

St Louis were again punished for poor marking in the 65th minute as substitute Hector Svensson made no mistake to beat Onyango with a beautiful strike at the far post.  

The same Svensson was again on target in the 82nd minute. St Louis' Andy Sarah's back pass to goalie Onyango was too short and Svensson, who was lurking, delicately chipped the ball past the hapless St Louis custodian to put IF Elfsborg four goals up.

In the 87th minute, goalie Onyango was again unable to get hold of a Svensson teasing cross from the right wing and Alexandersson rushed on to the loose ball to fire a shot which easily beat the St Louis keeper.

Coach Haglund, who did not hesitate to give the substitutes playing time with the team holding a five-goal lead, told Sports Nation after the match that he was satisfied with his team's performance.

"I like the way we played today (Wednesday) and I hope my players will play with the same conviction in our next game against St Michel on Saturday," he said.

C. J.