MONROVIA— League leaders Bea Mountain FC preserved their perfect start to the 2026/27 Liberia Football Association (LFA) First Division season on Wednesday, coming from behind to defeat former champions FC Fassell 2-1 at the D. Twe Field in New Kru Town, Bushrod Island.
By Christopher C. Walker 0777898224/0886723075 [email protected]
The Gold Boys, who entered the midweek encounter with nine points from three matches, showed resilience after conceding an early goal before producing two second-half strikes to secure all three points and maintain their 100 percent record.
Frankly Vambo put Fassell ahead in the 18th minute with a powerful set-piece, but Bea Mountain responded through Ralph Weah in the 75th minute before Josiah Lactro completed the comeback eight minutes later.
The result handed Bea Mountain’s Turkish head coach, Ibrahim Cezayir, victory over Fassell’s Spanish manager, Vicente Parras, in a contest that brought together two early title contenders.
Fassell entered the match sitting third with seven points, just two behind the leaders, hoping to close the gap at the summit. Instead, the Soccer Missionaries suffered their first defeat of the campaign after failing to protect their halftime advantage.
Vambo Fires Fassell Ahead
Fassell began the encounter with determination, looking to disrupt Bea Mountain’s rhythm and capitalize on the opportunity to challenge the league leaders.
Their aggressive approach paid off in the 18th minute when Vambo unleashed a powerful set-piece that beat the Bea Mountain wall to give the Soccer Missionaries a 1-0 lead.
The goal put Fassell in control of the contest and gave Parras’ side an opportunity to manage the game against a Bea Mountain team that had won its opening three matches.
Despite several attempts by the Gold Boys to restore parity, Fassell maintained their advantage through the remainder of the first half.
The Soccer Missionaries went into the break with a narrow lead, leaving Bea Mountain needing a much stronger second-half performance to preserve their flawless record.
Weah Sparks the Comeback
Bea Mountain returned from the break with renewed urgency as they searched for an equalizer.
Their persistence finally paid off in the 75th minute when Ralph Weah produced a superb curling finish to bring the score to 1-1.
The goal dramatically shifted the momentum, giving the league leaders fresh belief and putting Fassell under increasing pressure.
With the match approaching its closing stages, Bea Mountain continued their push for a winner.
Their determination was rewarded in the 82nd minute when Josiah Lactro found the back of the net to complete the comeback and put the Gold Boys ahead for the first time.
The late header proved decisive as Bea Mountain held on to secure a 2-1 victory, turning a potential setback into another statement of their early-season ambitions.
The victory extended their winning run to four matches, leaving them at the top of the table with 12 points from four games.
For Fassell, the loss was a severe blow after taking the lead and carrying their advantage into halftime, only to concede twice in the final 15 minutes.
Cezayir Wins Tactical Battle
The encounter provided an intriguing tactical contest between Cezayir and Parras, two foreign coaches seeking to establish their teams among the leading contenders for the First Division crown.
Cezayir’s side demonstrated patience and resilience after falling behind, eventually finding the breakthrough in the closing stages to secure the victory.
For Bea Mountain, the result was another indication of their ability to grind out points under pressure rather than relying solely on attacking flair.
Parras, meanwhile, will be left to assess how his side surrendered a promising position after controlling the opening period.
Returning U-20 Stars Strengthen Bea Mountain
Bea Mountain’s pre-match preparations had drawn significant attention following the return of several young stars who recently represented Liberia at the WAFU U-20 tournament.
The club had six players involved in the national team’s campaign: Amos Parched, Darius Garmondeh, Pewou Bestman Jr., Josiah Lactro, Moses Kamara, and Ralph Weah.
Weah and Lactro ultimately made decisive contributions to the comeback, with Weah restoring parity before Lactro delivered the winning goal.
The match also featured an interesting reunion involving goalkeeper Ahameh Savage, who recently moved from Fassell to Bea Mountain, and Ketu Jerbo, a former Bea Mountain player now featured for the Soccer Missionaries.
Their connections to both clubs added extra spice to an already high-stakes fixture.
Historical Advantage Fails to Save Fassell
Despite Bea Mountain’s strong start to the campaign, recent head-to-head records had favored Fassell prior to Wednesday’s meeting.
Across their previous four First Division encounters, Fassell had recorded two victories, compared with one win for Bea Mountain and one draw, outscoring the Gold Boys 6-3 during that stretch.
Fassell won 3-0 on October 16, 2024, before recording a 3-2 victory on February 4, 2025. The sides played to a goalless draw on December 11, 2025, while Bea Mountain secured a narrow 1-0 victory on March 1, 2026.
Wednesday’s comeback provided Bea Mountain with another statement result in the growing rivalry and further solidified their place at the top of the standings.
Sirleaf Watches From the Stands
Former Barrack Young Controllers (BYC) Chief Executive Officer Robert Alvin Sirleaf was also present at D. Twe Field to take in the encounter.
During its active years, BYC was among the elite clubs that brought fierce competition to Liberian football, challenging established sides and winning domestic honors. While the club is no longer active, its legacy remains an integral part of the country’s domestic football story, and Sirleaf’s presence brought back memories of BYC’s glory days.
Focus Shifts Across the League
Wednesday’s fixtures produced several other notable outcomes across the First Division:
LPRC Oilers 2–1 Watanga FC: Cooper Sannoh scored against his former club to help the Oilers claim all three points.
Paynesville FC 5–2 Freeport FC, Paynesville recorded an emphatic high-scoring victory.
Heaven Eleven 4–0 Down Town FC: Heaven Eleven dominated from start to finish in a blowout win.
Discoveries SA 3–1 District #17: Discoveries earned a comfortable victory at home.
Shaita FC 1–1 Golden Dream FC: Both sides shared the points in a tight contest.
Gardnersville FC 1–1 Wologizi FC: Played out to a score draw.
LISCR FC 0–0 Blackman Warriors: Settled for a goalless draw.
Attention now turns to Thursday’s Bushrod Island derby, where NPA Anchors will host Borough FC at Tusa Field in Gardnersville in the only scheduled First Division fixture.
NPA Anchors enter the match with seven points, while Borough FC have four.
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