Cosafa Cup Mark Gleeson BBC Sport in Antananarivo

Madagascar 2-1 Mauritius

The rivalry gets stronger with each game

Madagascar have kept up their 16-year unbeaten streak against their island neighbours in the opening match of the 2003 Cosafa Castle Cup.

The win was gifted to them by the Mauritians, who made some elementary errors early on to allow the home side a 2-0 lead at the break.

A handball by defender Ashik Punchoo, trying to clear his own lines, gave the hosts a penalty in the 15th minute, duly converted by Ruphin Menakely.

Winger Jean-Jacques Radonamahafalison then caught Mauritius' goalkeeper Orwin Castel out of position as he fired in a free kick in the 33rd minute, with the ball creeping in at the near corner as Castel anticipated a cross to the far post.

Cosafa Cup 2003 - first round Madagascar 2-1 Mauritius Namibia v Botswana Mozambique v Lesotho Zimbabwe v Angola Byes: South Africa, Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia

A diving header from Kersley Appou reduced the deficit five minutes into the second half but Mauritius were then only able to conjure up a few half chances as they battled in the intense heat.

Defender Jean-Yves Duval came close with a back-post header that was saved by the Malagasy crossbar as the match approached an end.

Substitute striker Tony Francois was brought on with 12 minutes left to give Mauritius more power in attack but was sent off minutes later for an off-the-ball elbow on defender Olivier Rakotondranoro.

Madagascar: 1-Jean Chrysostome Raharison, 2-Jimmy Radafison, 3-Olivier Rakotondranoro, 12-Norbert Randrianoelsion, 14-Mamisoa Razafindrakoto, 6-Christophe Anly, 7-Jean-Jacques Radonamahafalison, 13-Patrick Rajaobary (8-Jean Natal Ratsimialona, 64), 9-Ruphin Menakely, 15-Etienne Rado Rasoanaivo, 11-Fabrice Mosa (10-Dominique Rakotondraibe, 76). Coach: Hans Heiniger.