Taifa Stars yesterday made a record win when they hammered Mauritius 4-1 in a return leg tie of the World Cup/African Cup of Nations soccer qualifiers in a match held at the new George V Stadium in Port Louis.
The two drew 1-1 when they met in Dar es Salaam`s first leg at the National Stadium in June this year. It was a do or die encounter as Stars commanded the game in the first half dictating terms in all departments.
The match, however, was just to accomplish the fixture as both teams are placed at the bottom of their group and are already out of the race.
Stars with five points ranks third in Group I while Mauritius is the fourth with a single point.
Stars opened their score in the 11th minute through Kigi Makassy. Mauritus defender Bazerque fouled Mrisho Ngassa near the box forcing referee Alfred Ndimya from Kenya to award a direct free kick which Makassy converted to a goal.
Mauritius equalised two minutes later through Pithia Louis. Then the pitch turned into a goal spree for Taifa Stars sending them for break with a 4 – 1win. Nizar and Jerison Tegete scored the second, third and fourth goals respectively.
In the second half the home side made some changes that enabled them put up a strong resistance that nearly earned them a goal in the late minutes but their efforts fell short when their promising shot fell in the hands of Stars` goalie Ivo Mapunda.
Line up: Stars: Ivo Mapunda, Shadrack Nsajigwa, Juma Jabu, Salum Sued, Nadir Haroub `Canavaro`, Geofrey Bonny, Shabaan Nditi, Nizar Khalfan, Jerson Tegete, Mrisho Ngassa and Kigi Makassy.
Mauritius: Ammomoothoo Desire, Lemince Ashrey Rutchie, Bazerque Jean Christopher, L`enfle Louis, Sophie Andy/Pithia Fabier, Marquette Wesley, Dawochand Sewraj, Pithia Louis Fabrice, Labonte Vincent, Cundasamy Louis Jimmy and Cundasamy Johan.
- SOURCE: Sunday Observer
