By REDintern Hariharan

Jalan Besar Stadium, Wednesday, June 9, 2010 — S.League debutants Etoile FC thrashed Tampines Rovers FC 4-0 to go two points clear over the latter at the top of the table.

This also means that Etoile have recorded wins over the “big three” — Home United, SAFFC, Tampines — in the S.League this season.

A tactically sound Etoile FC dominated for the most part of the game, winning the midfield battles and creating numerous scoring opportunities.

The previous meeting between the clubs in March was a fiery encounter that ended in a 1-1 draw, courtesy of a late goal by Etoile winger Flavien Michelini.

Etoile FC went into this game with a record of eight games without conceding a goal. Tampines Rovers boasted a fearsome scoring statistic of 33 goals in 16 games. It was a tale of the best attack going up against the best defense of the league.

The game got off to a flying start when Frederic Mendy was handed a scoring chance as early as in the 2nd minute when he controlled Etoile FC captain Matthias Verschave’s cross into the box. However, Mendy’s shot found the side netting as Tampines goalkeeper Hassan Sunny did well to close down the angle.

A minute later, it was the Stags’ turn to attack as a series of passes among the forwards eventually found Jamil Ali who took a shot from just outside the box. Etoile’s custodian Yohann Lacroix was up to the challenge as he pounced on the ball that was sneaking into the bottom left corner of goal.

In the 10th minute, Etoile were awarded a free kick for a foul on Danile Nna just outside the box. Julien Deletraz executed a textbook curling shot toward the top left corner of goal. Hassan Sunny equalled the free kick with a stunning save.

Five minutes later , last man Seiki Kaneko brought down Mendy with a tackle from behind. An unsure referee Kalimuthu issued Kaneko a yellow card although he had taken the ball before making contact with Mendy. The free kick was poorly taken as the ball rammed into the four-man wall.

Tampines striker Aleksandar Duric started taking charge of the attack in the 21st minute as he played a one-two with Jamil Ali and found himself in a position to shoot. However, he held the ball for too long and lost possession.

Duric’s indecisiveness in front of goal was punished as Etoile scored the first goal on the break. Karim Boudjema played the ball behind Kaneko for Mendy to chase while Hassan Sunny came out of goal to close Mendy down. Mendy managed to shrug off Kaneko and squeezed the ball past Hassan Sunny into the far post at the tightest of angles.

It was all one-way traffic after the goal with Etoile FC asking all the questions.

Deletraz looked lethal in attack as he took on four men going down the right flank and into the box, winning a corner in the end.

The impressive Deletraz performed his duties in defense as well with great precision and skill as he ensured the Tampines attacks did not amount to anything.

Duric started off another attack in the 40th minute as he found Jamil Ali on the right flank outside the Etoile area. Jamil Ali crossed the ball back to Duric who made his way into the box. Duric managed to chest the ball down and get a shot away but his shot came off an Etoile defender and went out of play for a corner.

The second goal for Etoile FC came in the 44th minute. Boudjema bullied his way down the left flank and squared the ball to Kevin Yann. Yann’s first time strike deflected off Hassan Sunny who rushed out of goal, making himself big. The deflected shot looped over the keeper and headed for the bottom right corner of goal.

Adding insult to injury, Rovers defender Kaneko was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Mendy that saw him head for an early shower right at the death of the first half.

The second half got off to a slow start as Etoile kept possession of the ball for lengthened periods. Tampines were tighter at the back and looked to hit Etoile on the break. The stags stole the ball from Etoile a couple of times but were unable to convert their attacks to goals.

Desperation could be sensed from the Tampines Rovers dugout as a double substitution was made in the 57th minute. Star striker Qiu Li, who was still nursing a groin injury, was brought on for Aliff Shafaein and Imran Sahib for Ismadi Mukhtar.

Qiu Li was immediately called into action as Duric layed the ball off for him on the edge of the Etoile box. Qiu Li dragged the ball to his left, beating Loic Leclercq, and struck the ball with venom. However, his shot ricocheted off the post. He was unlucky to hit the upright as the keeper was clearly beaten.

Etoile’s third goal came in 62nd minute. A goal that reflected true team effort started with a cross from Verschave from the right. The cross found Boudjema who unselfishly headed the ball back across goal to Mendy. Mendy finished off the move with a header past Hassan Sunny from just three yards out.

The stags refused to admit defeat and went on the offense, winning a free kick on the edge of the Etoile penalty box. Qiu Li stepped up and sent the ball just wide of the left post with a tricky curling effort that left Lacroix checking his bearings.

Moments later, Akihiro Nakamura spurned a great opportunity when he received the ball from Qui Li’s header across goal. With only the keeper to beat, Nakamura went for power over placement as his shot went wide of the post.

Mendy wasted his chance to get a hat-trick when Cyril Bagnost put the ball through to him in the 69th minute. One-on-one with the keeper, Mendy smashed the ball against Hassan Sunny who once again rushed out to close down the angle.

Flavien Michelini came on for Daniel Nna in the 79th minute. Boudjema went to left back as Michelini took up position on the left wing.

Verschave capitalised on Rovers captain Zulkarnaen Zainal’s error in the 84th minute as a lapse in concentration handed possession to Etoile FC. Verschave sprinted toward goal from the right with two men in support. Verschave took on the shot himself and buried the ball in the back of the net securing Etoile’s fourth and final goal.