Monrovia – Liberia’s Lone Star took the second spot in Group G of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a 1-0 victory at home over group leaders, Warriors of Zimbabwe. The game was played at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex on Sunday, November 18.
Report by Christopher C. Walker, [email protected]
William Jebor’s 69th minute goal was enough to seal the must-win game for the home side after several attempts on targets in the first half and midway in the second.
The visitors started the match needing only a point to seal their place in Cameroon while the home side needed a win to keep their hope of a third nations cup appearance alive.
Zimbabwe pushed the home side in their own half in the opening minutes of the match but Teah Dennis and his men resisted all attempts from the Warriors to get an early goal.
Lone Star’s Tonia Tisdell’s pace on the flank resulted into the first yellow card of the game to Marshall Mujeisi six minutes after kickoff.
Jebor’s first shot went wild after Anthony Laffor, Kpah Sherman and Tisdell’s great connections deep in the half of the warriors.
Marshall’s effort was intercepted by Alvin Maccornel in the 19th minute for a corner kick to the away team but Ashley Williams made a saved.
Kadewere got himself in the six yard box but Dennis was there to deflect it wide as Musona and Pfumbidzai worked well to get the cross into the box.
Sherman and Jebor playing upfront had several attempts off target in the first half while the Warriors proved dangerous going forward but fail to hit the ball at the back of the net.
Young Williams making his second appearance for Liberia came to the rescue of the team three times and was very relaxed in the goal
Edmore Sibanda made a brilliant save from Laffor’s ferocious shot, but the flag went up for offside.
Ovidy Karuru exchanged passes with Knowledge Musona in the Lone Star box but his final touch let him down and Joel Johnson of the home side cleared the ball for safety 38 minutes on the clock.
The home said had much of the possession in the first half but could not score due to the tight defense of the warriors ending the first half goalless.
After the interval, Thomas Kojo’s men were the better side throughout but had to wait until the 64th minute before the deadlock was broken.
Alvin Maccornel was replaced at half time by Kemoh Kamara due to injury while Eugene Swen came on late in the match to make his debut for Liberia.
But Mohammed Sangare the Newcastle United Under-23 midfielder had to watch the full ninety minutes of play from the bench.
Laffor’s decent cross was headed over the crossbar by Sherman and Allen Njie’s ambitious shot passed the goal by an inch.
Sherman was replaced by Sylvanus Nimely, who increased the pressure on Zimbabwe with his runs and penetrating passes.
Sibanda made a fantastic save from Laffor one touch ball after the Warriors keeper mistakenly hit the ball off Jebor.
Jebor was on hand at the back post to tap home a deep Tisdell’s cross after the winger was released by Sylvanus Nimely to send the entire stadium into celebration.
It was an easy goal for the captain who was completely unmarked as the ball fell to his feet on the goal line.
Lone Star approached the game with lots of pressure and aggression denying the Warriors of playing their normal attacking game.
Up by a goal, the home side held to their lead up to the final whistle to record their second successive victory at home under Thomas Kojo
Sunday victory secured a second place spot in Group G with seven points one points behind leaders Zimbabwe. The Warriors will now need a point in their last game of the qualifiers at home against Congo Brazzaville.
While Liberia will be hoping to get a point away to DR Congo and hope for a win or draw for Zimbabwe to advance to the nation’s cup for the third time.
Speaking to the media at the post-match press conference Sunday, Chidzambwa, head coach of Zimbabwe, said his team did not play up to his expectation but said he is still optimistic of playing at the Nations Cup in Cameroon.
“My forwards did not play up to expectation today that’s the reason we lost.
“We can still qualify with our last game at home we will do our best to get the needed points “he said
For his part Thomas Kojo, Liberia’s head coach, said his player’s implemented his instructions well something he said resulted to the victory.
“ The guys were disciplined today from defense to attack and that was the reason we won today. I must congratulate them for the level of discipline shown today.” Kojo said.
According to the former Lone Star right back, his team is improving game by game and is confident that in the next two years Liberia can compete with top counties in the world of football.
“ The way we played today is a sign that we are improving as a team going forward and defending when it is time to defend Thomas added.
He congratulated the thousands of Liberians for turning up to cheer the team to victory.
William Jebor, who got the lone goal thinks that Liberia can still qualify for the nation’s cup if the team keeps its focus.
“I believed we can go to DRC and win there, everything is possible in football. We are taking it game by game,” Jebor told the media.
In the other match in the Group, host Congo Brazzaville forced the Democratic Republic of Congo to a 1-1 draw.
Currently DRC has six points one blow Liberia while Brazzaville has five points at the bottom of the table.