When the Dynamos,
African vice champion 1998 had been drawn into one of those 'groups of
death' with ASEC, the African champions, and with Esperance, the winners
of the Cup Winners Cup, it became immediately clear that those matches
against the complete outsiders St.Louisienne from the small island Réunion
would hold a key to the reach of the final.
Wasting points against
the outsiders would likely diminish hopes to reach the necessary first
place to a minimum.
And also it was clear
that not taking St.Louisienne as serious as possible would lead to the
fate of the South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns who were kicked out
by that team in the qualification rounds.
And so it came. St
Louisienne surprised the Dynamos with an early lead and created more chances
in the beginning of the match.
In the second half
it completely turned into one of those cup matches with the apparently
inferiour team fighting concentrated in defence with some luck and a great
goalkeeper.
The Dynamos now displaying
their passing skills that brought them to the final last year and created
several chances against a team that was reduced to ten men. But St. Louisienne
with a lot of European assets in their game and some fine footballers anyway
were able to rescue the score.
1:0 and the Dynamos
find themselves almost in a must win situation before their next match
at home against Esperance. St.Louisienne can dream on.
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