Monrovia – River Gee County’s football team reached their first County Meet final in 15 years after Wednesday’s victory over Grand Bassa County in the semi-finals. The boys from the Southeast became the first team to reach the grand final of the 2023/24 National County Sports Meet. They defeated Grand Bassa 2-0 with a goal each from Derrick Weah and Blamo Weah. They advance to the final for the first time since they last did so in 2009. The last time they reached the final, they were beaten 5-2 by Bomi.
By: Christopher C Walker [email protected] 0886723075/0777898224
River Gee went into the match as underdogs but that wasn’t the case on the pitch when central referee Washington Doe sounded the whistle for the start of the match. Bassa was second best in the encounter as the boys from Fish Town city kept pushing for the match opener. River Gee dominated the midfield, which resulted in Bassa attackers not having supply upfront to threaten the defense of River Gee. The southeasters had a goal disallowed for a foul on the keeper of Bassa when he tried to save a ball that slipped off his hands, and an attacker was right on time to tip in from close range, but the referee signaled for a foul against the River Gee player, much to the disbelief of their supporters who thought they had taken the lead. Both teams gave a good account of themselves but couldn’t break the deadlock as the first half ended goalless.
Back from the break, Daniel Sasley’s boys of River Gee mounted pressure on Bassa who was without their star player Varney Sando, who watched the game from the bench and had no part to play in the match. The Fish Town city boys got the match opener when their captain Daniel Toe made his way from a tight angle to assist for the match opener that was scored by Derrick Weah in the 74th minute. With time running out for Bassa, things got worse when Blamo Weah added his name to the scoresheet following his excellent control outside the box before snatching home a powerful strike in the 82nd minute. Grand Bassa County fought to level the score but couldn’t as their front men were overpowered by young Jusu Dukuly in defense for River Gee County.
Daniel Sasley’s side, who have found it difficult to reach the knockout stage of the competition, have now made amends and are now in the final. River Gee, the underdog so far, will now wait until Thursday’s semifinal match between Nimba and Lofa to know their opponent in Sunday’s final at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex.
In the kickball version of the county meet, Rivercess County reached the final after a commanding 6-1 home runs win over Bomi County. Rivercess now awaits the winner from Nimba and Lofa County in the final.
Meanwhile, the third-place matches in both Kickball and Football will take place on Saturday at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex, according to the organizers, the Ministry of Youth and Sports.