MONROVIA, Montserrado – After more than a year without domestic football, the Liberia Football Association began the 2018 season with the Super Cup matches played at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium.
LISCR FC got the new season off to a flying start by winning the Super Cup title. The Shipping Boys grabbed a 3-0 win over SRIMEX FC, formerly ELWA United. Goals from Mark Paye, Sheku Sheriff, and Prince Urey in the second half were enough to hand Gambian coach Tapha Manneh his third trophy in Liberian football.
Heavy rains on Saturday evening meant the pitch was flooded and both teams found it difficult to play. The two teams created few chances in the first half but were unable to find the back of the nets as they went to the break with a goalless draw.
LISCR FC and Srimex FC playing on a flooded Antoinette Tubman Stadium pitch in the 2018 LFA Sup Cup; Photo By T. Kla Wesley Jr.
However, LISCR FC returned stronger after the break to prevent the match from being decided from the penalty spot. Former BYC FC striker Mark Paye got his first competitive goal for the Shipping Boys just six minutes into the second half when he scored from Edward Ledlum’s assist. Ledlum made his way down the right side of Srimex FC’s defense before crossing the ball across the defense line, where Paye was perfectly positioned to get the ball to the back of the net.
Paye’s goal set LISCR FC off in search of more goals. Tapha Manneh’s boys kept pressing on until Sheku Sheriff got the second goal of the game. Sheriff made his debut in the Number 10 shirt with a brilliant finish to make things difficult for Srimex FC. It was another of Ledlum’s brilliant display that helped LISCR double the lead. From the same right position, the 2016-17 National County Sports Meet’s Most Valuable Player got his second assist of the match when he gifted Sheriff LISCR FC’s second goal in the 72nd minute.
LISCR FC’s goals in the Super Cup was wrapped up by former Monrovia Club Breweries striker, Prince Urey, who scored with a close-range effort. Urey’s goal was the last of the match with LISCR FC failing to get a goal again and Srimex FC failing to get a consolation.
LISCR FC’s 3-0 win in the Super Cup means they’ve gotten six goals against Srimex in their last two meetings. The two teams played in the FA Cup final, where LISCR recorded a 3-0 win. Sheriff, who got a goal in the Super Cup, was on the scoresheet along with Stephen Seameh and Edward Ledlum.
Before the match between LISCR FC and Srimex FC, the women Super Cup title was captured by Senior Pro Football Club. Senior Pro clinched the 2018 Liberia Football Association Women Super Cup title with a narrow win over Liberia’s most successful female team, Earth Angels. Senior Pro game from two goals down and beat Earth Angels 4-3 to lift the 2018 Women Super Cup title.
Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley Jr.
