Football: Airtel Cup

SMB edge Dynamo to go second

NEWLY-PROMOTED first division side SMB kept alive their hope of qualifying for the semifinal of the Airtel Cup after edging Northern Dynamo 3-2 in a group A match on Thursday April 22 at Stad Linite.

SMB, who had edged Sunshine 1-0 a week ago, came into Thursday's match with the upper-hand and they dominated proceedings as from the first whistle. However, despite being the more enterprising side of the two, they couldn't break the deadlock after the first 45 minutes of play. 

Unlike the first half which lacked goal-mouth actions, the second 45-minute spell was filled with beautiful plays and good attacking football by both sides which added more zest to the game.

Northern Dynamo's Colin Volcère surprised the SMB entourage in the 54th minute with a low shot which easily beat SMB's keeper Antoine Dubel for the game's first goal.

Despite falling behind, SMB kept attacking and got the equaliser only a minute later through captain Colin Laporte who had the better of Dynamo's goalie Jules Monnaie with a beautiful strike from the edge of the penalty area.

Three minutes later, the same Laporte, who orchestrated most of his team's attacks in the second half, fired a fierce shot which found refuge at the back of Dynamo's net to give SMB the lead (2-1).

SMB grew in confidence as the match grew older. They got a third goal from Joseph Marcelin whose cross-cum-shot in the 64th minute left keeper Monnaie ball-watching to bring the score to 3-1.

Trailing by two goals, Cliff Nolin's Northern Dynamo tried their very best to get back into the game to at least salvage a point, but they had no luck.

Even though Colin Marie found the back of keeper Dubel's net in injury time to reduce the arrears to one goal (2-3), his goal came a little too late as SMB had already sewn up the match.

The win, SMB's third in six outings, has helped them to climb into second position in the group A standings with 10 points, two less than group leaders St Michel who have two matches in hand. 

Northern Dynamo, who started the day in the runners-up spot, now lie in third place with seven points after having taken to the field six times.

C. J.