Roche Bon Dieu Saint Etienne Secure 4-2 Win Over Mt Malgache

Rodrigues Roche Bon Dieu Saint Etienne Sporting Club faced Mt Malgache at the Jean Daniel Andre Stadium on 4th December 2025, with kick-off at 5:30pm in a fiercely contested cup neutral match. The encounter ended 4-2 in favour of Rodrigues Roche Bon Dieu Saint Etienne after 90 minutes plus five minutes of extra time, showcasing attacking flair and tactical adjustments.

The home side deployed a 3-2-3-2 formation, setting up with three defenders at the back: Isaac Brandy Clair on the right, Jean Steven Etienne centrally, and Markley Begue on the left. Two central midfielders, Jean David Philippe and Jean Jordenley Jolicoeur, were tasked with controlling the middle of the park and linking defence to attack. Ahead of them, a three-man attacking midfield line featured Marc Yohan Junior Francon Edouard on the right, Joseph Olivier Prudence centrally, and Nigel Philippe on the left. Up front, the striking duo consisted of Jean Daryl Gaspard on the right and Jean Jeremi Marinio Castel on the left, expected to spearhead the offensive efforts. The substitutes available were Nigel Azie, James Hendrick Jean Pierre, Joseph Stephenson Begue, Jean Claudney Pierre Louis, and Kevan Castel.

The match burst into life early on when Jean David Philippe opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Receiving a long pass lobbed expertly by Nigel Philippe, Philippe controlled the ball before delicately chipping it over the goalkeeper with his right foot, setting the tone for Rodrigues Roche Bon Dieu Saint Etienne’s attacking intent. The visitors struggled to contain the home side’s fluid movement and incisive passing.

By the 27th minute, Nigel Philippe doubled the lead, capitalising on a short pass from Jean Jordenley Jolicoeur inside the box. Philippe’s composed finish with his right foot left the goalkeeper with no chance, highlighting his growing influence on the match. The left attacking midfielder was proving a constant threat down the flank, combining skill and precision.

Just before half-time, Philippe struck again to make it 3-0. Assisted by a neat short pass from right forward Jean Daryl Gaspard, Philippe was on hand to tap in with his right foot, demonstrating excellent positioning and composure. This goal came at the 45th minute mark, effectively putting the home side in a commanding position going into the break.

At half-time, a tactical substitution was made with Nigel Azie replacing central midfielder Jean Jordenley Jolicoeur, signalling an intent to maintain control and energy in midfield for the second period.

The second half began with Rodrigues Roche Bon Dieu Saint Etienne continuing their dominance. Just five minutes after the restart, Jean Daryl Gaspard added a fourth goal with a powerful long-range strike. Assisted by a short pass from right attacking midfielder Marc Yohan Junior Francon Edouard, Gaspard’s right-footed effort flew past the goalkeeper, further extending the lead and energising the home crowd.

However, the tactical changes continued swiftly as James Hendrick Jean Pierre came on for Gaspard at the 52nd minute, and Joseph Stephenson Begue replaced right defender Isaac Brandy Clair simultaneously. These substitutions aimed to refresh the squad and maintain intensity on both ends of the pitch.

At the 67th minute, Joseph Olivier Prudence was withdrawn for Jean Claudney Pierre Louis, followed by another tactical change at the 80th minute when Kevan Castel replaced Marc Yohan Junior Francon Edouard. These moves reflected the manager’s desire to manage the game’s tempo and shore up the squad for the closing stages.

Despite the commanding lead, Mt Malgache fought back late on. They pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 80th minute, converting with a right-footed finish that injected renewed hope into their challenge. The visitors pressed on and scored again in the 88th minute with a left-footed long-range strike, narrowing the deficit to 4-2 and setting up a nervy finale.

Rodrigues Roche Bon Dieu Saint Etienne held firm through the remaining minutes of added time and extra time, ensuring their progression in the cup competition. Nigel Philippe’s outstanding performance, highlighted by his two goals and an assist, earned him the player of the match accolade, underlining his pivotal role in the victory.

Overall, Rodrigues Roche Bon Dieu Saint Etienne’s tactical setup and clinical finishing proved decisive against a resilient Mt Malgache side, delivering an entertaining and high-scoring encounter at the Jean Daniel Andre Stadium.