MONROVIA, Montserrado – Antoinette Tubman Stadium was the center of attraction on Dec. 3 as fans gathered to watch the resumption of the 2015-2016 Liberia National County Meet.
As the tournament enters its closing stages, the favorites have started to show supremacy.
In the first kickball quarterfinals match, Nimba snatched a crucial 3-2 home run over defending champions Bong. The Nimba kickball team became the first to make the semifinals of the 2015-2016 county meet.
In the day’s second match, 2008 football champions Bong enjoyed a comfortable 3-1 win over southeastern side Maryland. Two second-half goals from Samie Max and Arku Morris were enough to take the “Kpatawee Boys” to the semifinals.
An own goal from Kelvin Allison gave Bong the lead in the 15th minute. However, Maryland kept mounting pressure, took control of the remaining 30 minutes until Emmanuel Porte netted the equalizer in the stoppage time of the first half.
Back from the break, Maryland took control of the match, mounted pressure on Bong, but their missed goal opportunity kept the score 1-1 until Bong took the lead in the 66th minute through a Samie Max close range shot.
Maryland’s efforts to get the score level for the second time did not work out as Bong extended the lead in the 67th minute through third division club Muscat FC’s midfielder Arku Morris.
Despite the loss, Maryland’s center defender Isaac Yancy said he felt that his side was the better team who were simply unlucky.
Maryland’s center defender Isaac Yancy. Photo: T. Kla Wesley, Jr.
“They always said Maryland doesn’t play well, but we have proven them wrong from the group stage up to this quarter finals. Though we are out, I think we were the better side in the match. We missed some goal chances and our goalkeeper made some few mistakes.”
Bong head coach Cooper Sannoh. Photo: T. Kla Wesley, Jr.
The head coach of Bong, Cooper Sannoh, praised his players and assured Bong fans that the team would head to the final of the tournament.
Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley Jr.
