Monrovia- The 2019 Liberia Football Association Cup came to an end finally on Sunday, June 16, with the “Shipping Boys” of LISCR FC wining the FA Cup.
LISCR beat their rival Barrack Young Controllers 2-0 in a classical final played at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Central Monrovia.
The Shipping Boys were very aggressive in both halves of the match but was unable to hit the net until late in the second half.
Both teams went into the match knowing that it was one for pride and a chance to represent Liberia at the CAF Cup. During their last meeting in the league it was LISCR, who triumphed 2-1 away and the final was expected to produce lots of excitement.
Dirkir Glay’s shot in the 3rd minute of the match traveled an inch from goal to the surprise of the LISCR faithful.
Despite BYC’s recent poor form in their last four games which they drew and LISCR won three of their four, many pundits predicted that the game’s winner would be decided from the penalty spot, but LISCR FC changed their expectation.
Christopher Jackson missed a free header in the 15th minute while Sam Jackson’s one-on-one effort was blocked by Daniel Woto, who came from ‘no man’s land’ to deny Jackson scoring against his former club.
LISCR created some chances but failed to score in the opening ten minutes of the match. Skillful winger Sam Jackson came close to giving LISCR the lead twice but saw his headers just inches away from the goal post.
BYC was lucky to end the first half goalless with no attempt on target but held on thanks to their experienced defense pairing of Teah Dennis, Prince Jetoh, Jeremy Saygbe and Daniel Woto.
After the interval, BYC’s caretaker coach, Samuel Sumo, introduced Benjamin Gbemy for James Walatee.
Daniel Woto was sent-off in the 61st minute for an off the ball challenge on LISCR winger Sam Jackson.
It wasn’t until the 85th minute that the deadlock was broken. Christopher Jackson, who is in the form of his career scored from within BYC’s six-yard box with a flying header after an excellent cross from Sam Jackson to give the Shipping Boys the lead.
With a goal down, BYC showed some strength for the equalizer with Trokon Myers
coming close to scoring after overpowering Kemoh Kamara but his touch went wide
over the bar.
Ketu Jerbo’s shot was decently blocked by Dirkir Glay from in the six-yard box when fans thought he had level things.
LISCR’s solid defending denied BYC of the equalizer after the ‘Go Blue Boys’ pulled out a strong fight.
While BYC was desperate for an equalizer, LISCR made it 2-0 from a Curtis Koon’s easy finished following Edward Ledlum’s assist to revenge their 4-0 FA Cup loss in 2018 and the Super Cup 2-1 defeat that BYC inflicted on the “Shipping Boys”
The result earned LISCR the FA Cup for the second time in three years. They
will represent Liberia in the 2019 CAF Cup as winner of the FA Cup, while LPRC
Oilers will participate in the CAF Champions League after winning the league
with two games to the end of the league.
LISCR was presented a symbolic cheque of L$650,000 and a giant-size trophy for winning the FA Cup.
Runners up BYC received L$450,000, while Female Champion Earth Angels walk away with L$500,000.
In the Female category Earth Angels defeated Blanco FC 5-0 in a one-sided match.