Barrack Young Controllers’ hopes of playing in the group stage of any CAF club competition have come to end, with the club being humiliated by South African side SuperSports United in a 5-0 loss during the playoff round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
The Liberian first division champions bowed out of the competition on a 6-1 aggregate, having forced the South Africans to a 1-1 draw at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in the first leg played on April 9.
Their failure to capitalize on their goal scoring chances against Mozambican side, Clube Ferravario de Biera, ended their hopes of reaching the CAF Champions League group following a 2-2 aggregate score before going on to lose from the penalty spot. However, they were given a chance of playing in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup after being drawn against SuperSports United in the playoffs round.
Despite SuperSports being a top rated team on the African continent, it was BYC that had the chance of getting all of the three points at home. The Go Blue Boys had themselves to blame for going into the return leg in South Africa with a goal and a point after failing to make use of their chances in the first leg. Playing at home, they showed they were the better side with lots of chances created, but failed to hit the back of the net. They also missed from the penalty spot.
Unlike BYC, which misused its chances on home soil, SuperSports ensured they would reach the CAF Confederation Cup group stage after an easy 5-0 win at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.
A goal each from Thabo Mnyamane and Fagrie Lakay and a hat trick from New Zealand international Jeremy Brockie were enough to send BYC out of the competition.
The team will return home on Tuesday, April 18 to resume its defense of the first division title. From 11 matches played, they sit second on the league table with 21 points, 10 less than league leaders, FC Fassell. They will begin their second phase of the league Saturday, April 22, when they play against struggling Invisible Eleven, which has managed just one win in the last 12 matches played.
Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley Jr.
