Monrovia – Watanga FC started the new Liberia Football Association First Division League season in emphatic style, as they secured a 2-0 victory over newly-promoted Global Pharma Football Club at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Practice pitch on Sunday, September 10th.
By: Christopher C. Walker, [email protected]
It took just seven minutes for Watanga FC to take the lead at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Practice pitch, and there was no looking back from there as they sent out a message of intent for the new campaign.
The visitors, Global Pharma FC, made the worst start, with youngster Emmanuel Sieh putting the home side, Watanga, in the lead after just seven minutes into the match with the first attack of the game. The Pharmacists’ misery was compounded by the injury of their captain, Marvin Blapoh.
However, Global Pharma was not deterred, with Randy Dukuly and James Richardson coming close to scoring but were denied by Teddy Kollie of Watanga. Their hopes of a comeback were extinguished when Sieh grabbed his second goal after poor defending from the visitors in the 18th minute.
The Pharmacists’ boys fought to reduce the score but could not break through as the Soldiers Boys’ defense stood firm, ending the first half 2-0 in favor of Watanga FC.
After the break, Keatu Smith’s side came close to scoring, only for Amadiah Kawah to be denied twice. James Richardson’s clever ball was tipped over the crossbar by Kollie, much to the disbelief of the Pharmacists’ attacker.
Global Pharma dominated the second half as Watanga was forced to defend in their half while using the counter-attack to catch the visitors, but they couldn’t add to their lead, and the match ended in Watanga’s favor.
The victory for Watanga FC gave their fans something to cheer about after their painful elimination from the CAF Cup last weekend and a 4-2 Super Cup defeat at the hands of LISCR FC.
