Monrovia – Barrack Young Controllers’ (BYC) feeder team, BYC II, have won the Liberia Football Association’s (LFA) 2019 Second Division League with two games to spare.
The Junior Go Blue Boys were told by the Football Association prior to their game with Muscat FC on Tuesday that they have won the championship after a convincing 4-0 win over Mighty Blue Angels. They, however, labored to beat Muscat FC 0-1 away from home having been pressured by the home said for much of the first half.
Muscat FC had 80 percent possession of the ball but could not beat their former keeper Morlik Keita in goal for BYC II. Morlik made several fantastic saves.
Before the end of the first half, the Blues showed great composure in all departments of the match and was not deterred by the pressure from the home fans and the aggressive Muscat playing boys, who needed all three points to gain a place in the playoff for the First Division.
Jestino Jackson, Daniel Toe and William Seigeh came close to scoring for BYC II but their efforts were not harmful to Muscat FC.
Musa Jabateh and Mark Yallah made several dangerous moves and attempts for Muscat but Mouctarr Fofana’s tactics of employing more midfielders worked for him thus ending the first half goalless.
After the break, Muscat FC being cognizant that they need a win to challenge Tony FC, Nimba Kwado and Blue Angels for the last promotion spot in the playoff, created some heart-breaking moments for BYC fans including President Nathaniel Sherman and Chief Executive Officer Robert Alvin Sirleaf along with Board Members, who turnout for the match at the Northstar Stadium.
Irvin Gboto and Christian Doe were brought on for BYC II in the second half replacing Solomon Zeah and Sebastian Teclar and their introduction provided the perfect result for the visitors and they took control of the game.
Sierra Leonean midfielder Ajami Koromah got the match’s only goal after some good and skillful play by Daniel Toe, who dribbled past two defenders before setting up Koromah. Koromah wasted no time to strike from within the 18-yard box.
The away side mounted more pressure on Muscat as Jestino Jackson, Daniel Toe and Joseph Nimely could have increased the score but their efforts were miscalculated or saved by the goalie.
The match was stopped by central referee Hassan Konneh with less than ten minutes of regular time plus added time to the end of the match due to attack on assistant referee Joel Doe.
The assistant referee was stoned by a fan of Muscat resulting to a cut on him something the match official said they could not continue the game until security was provided them.
The home side tried to convince the referee that they could control the situation but Konneh insisted that he needed recognizable security to restart the match something Muscat didn’t provide.
The result of the game is yet to be determined by the LFA but BYC II is comfortably seated on top of the table with 56 points and a very good goal advantage.
With 56 points from 28 matches and if awarded the three points from Muscat FC, they will have 59, which none of the 16 teams can equal at the end of the season.
Bea Mountain, which are second with a game, have 53 points.
BYC II were champions in 2018 before Bea Mountain stole the show last season.
The league will finally come to an end with BYC II taking on Jai FC in the last game at home where they will officially be crowned champions.
Meanwhile, Bristol FC, Samira FC and Junior Professionals have been relegated to the 3rd Division following results in the Orange-sponsored Liberia Football Association (LFA) second division on Tuesday.
Alie Kamara scored twice for Mighty Barrolle, who condemned Bristol to a 4-1 defeat at the Nancy Doe sports stadium in Kakata, Margibi County.
Earlier on, Srimex FC and Samira FC settled for a 3-3 draw with a hat-trick for Jill Blemah of Srimex and a double for Samira’s Dennis Shabba.
Ousman Kamara scored a hat-trick for Mighty Blue Angels, who narrowly defeated Junior Professionals 3-2 at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS).
Adolphus Roberts scored a 32 minute goal to boost Pags FC’s escape from relegation with a 1-0 win over Jai FC in the second game.
Meanwhile, the LFA have awarded three points and two goals to Heaven Eleven after it was proven that Sekou Kamara was ineligible to feature for Junior Professionals in their 4-2 victory at the ATS on 6 July.
The final round of matches will be played on 13 July, which will be followed by the promotion and relegation play-offs.
In keeping with rules, BYC and Gardnersville FC will not be promoted because they are feeder teams to LISCR FC and BYC-I.
The third and fourth placed clubs will be engaged in a home and away promotional play-off for the third spot.
In the case where BYC-II and Gardnersville are in the third and/or fourth place(s), the club(s) next in line shall engage in the promotional play-off.
The 11th, 12th and 13th placed clubs will be engaged in a “round robin relegation” play-off for the eleventh spot in the second division.
The two losers of the play-off will be relegated along with positions 14, 15, 16 and 17.
Invincible Eleven were relegated in April for failing to pay a fine of L$150,000, having missed a league game away to Nimba Kwado.