Les Bleus shine as Woodlands Wellington crumble 4-0 in S.League football

Update by Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Queenstown Stadium, Thursday, March 11, 2010 - Fresh from their League Cup victory, Etoile FC demolished Woodlands Wellington 4-0 in their first home game of the S.League season. Etoile had earlier denied Woodlands the League Cup crown after they beat the latter 3-1 in the final.

Three early goals within the first 20 minutes set the pace for Etoile FC, as they left the visitors struggling to break into the offensive half. Julien Deletraz (Etoile #18) opened the floodgates with a free kick in the 8th minute, before Cyril Bagnost (Etoile #7) blasted a stunner past Woodlands Wellington goalkeeper Hafez Mawasi in the 14th minute.

Frederic Mendy (Etoile #12) tapped in a cross at the 21st minute to give the hosts a lead to sit back on. Mendy then scored his second goal for the game, and his third for the season, in the 51st minute.

However, Etoile FC's spectacular performance was marred by a bout of ill-discipline on the pitch. Woodlands Wellington, frustrated at being unable to score, were getting increasingly aggressive. A total of 13 yellow cards were flashed, nine to Woodlands Wellington and four to Etoile FC.

Woodlands Wellington captain Noor Ali's (#11) constant rants at the referee finally earned him a caution in the 58th minute. Teammates Luis Eduardo Hicks (#10, 30′), Winston Yap (#2, 43′) and Kazuki Yoshino (#4, 51′) also picked up their second yellow cards of the season. Etoile FC goalscorer Cyril Bagnost (Etoile #7) was also unfortunate to earn a yellow card, his second of the season, in the 59th minute.

A moment of controversy arose when Abdelhadi Laakkad (Woodlands Wellington #9) dramatically fell to the ground in the 72nd minute after an apparent challenge by Loic Leclercq (Etoile #5). Referee Sukhbir Singh consulted linesman Ahmad A’Qashah, before showing both players a yellow card. A furious Laakkad was then taken out and replaced by Nigel Vanu (#36), with the former openly expressing his anger.

Flavien Michelini (Etoile #17) also limped off in the 26th minute after an injury.

This win brings Etoile FC to second place with seven points, and a game in hand. Their next match will be on Sunday, March 14 against Home United at Clementi Stadium. Woodlands Wellington are third from last with two points. They next play Sengkang Punggol at home on Thursday, March 18.