MONROVIA, Montserrado – Daniel Tuazama scored twice as Monsterrado County came from behind to beat Grand Gedeh 4-2 in the last quarterfinals match of the 2015-2016 Liberia National County Sports Meet.

Daniel Lagaza put Grand Gedeh ahead early, in the 11th minute from the spot kick, after Monsterrado’s central defender Madas Saweres committed a handball in his 18-yard box.

Grand Gedeh led for five minutes, but that would become a distant memory by stoppage time. Monsterrado leveled the score through Musa Kabbah, who headed in Kantie Jarbo’s volley in the 16th minute.

Grand Gedeh’s Gee Even leveled the score in the 88th Minute. Photo: T. Kla Wesley, Jr.

After leveling the score, Monsterrado looked to have full control of the match with perfect ball passes and attacks.

Grand Gedeh did not contest for possession, and mostly hit Monsterrado on counters. That almost worked a couple of times, but Madas Saweler and Asiamuh Dann were always on their toes in Monsterrado’s defense and stopped most of the attacks.
Both teams tried to take the lead, but their back walls stood firm as there were no other goals scored in the first half and the score remained 1-1.

With just six minutes into the second half, Mickey Morgan’s long range pass was collected by Reeves FC’s star man, Robert D. Coleman, in Grand Gedeh’s penalty box. Coleman had the opportunity of shooting the ball himself. However, the 17-year-old winger flicked the ball over to the Zedell FC striker Tuazama, who placed the ball in the bottom right corner of Grand Gedeh’s net as Monsterrado took a well-deserved lead.

Robert D. Coleman came close to adding Monsterrado’s third goal in the 60th minute with a terrific shot from close to the halfway, but Grand Gedeh goalkeeper Emmanuel Henry reacted well to tip the ball wide of the target.

Grand Gedeh’s tough task became a whole lot harder in the 70th minute as Sunnyboy Saye was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Morgan.

Despite being reduced to ten men, Grand Gedeh kept the pressure and got the equalizer in the 88th minute through substitute Gee Even from close range.

The winner had to be decided in the extra time of play.

The opening exchanges in the extra time amounted to no more than sparring, but the game burst into life in the 19th minute after Daniel Pongay scored to give Monsterrado the lead.

With a goal behind, Grand Gedeh needed an equalizer to send the match to penalties. However, Grand Gedeh’s hopes of getting the equalizer before the sound of the final whistle came to an end three minutes to stoppage time when Tuazama netted his second goal of the match to make the score 4-2 for Monsterrado.

Montserrado’s scorer of two goals, Daniel Tuazama. Photo: T. Kla Wesley, Jr.

Monsterrado’s head coach Samuel Sumo believed his team was the better side. Sumo, who is also the assistant coach of Liberia first division club LISCR FC, has vowed to clinch the football trophy after seeing his side’s brilliant performance.

“I’m not surprised that we won. I knew it was going to be a tough match, but I knew we would win. Grand Gedeh has a good team that has a very good attacking force, but unfortunately for them, we had strategies to track them down.”

Sumo added, “Now we are into the semifinals, and we will be meeting Lofa, it will be a tough match, but I’m confident of nothing but a victory. I respect [Lofa], but [I’m] not afraid of them. With no fear, I can tell you we are going to the final, and we will win the title.”

Senator Geraldline Doe-Sheriff, a senior member of the Monsterrado’s organizing committee, thanked the coaches and players of Monsterrado for the level of improvement in the team. The senator also promised that the entire Monsterrado Legislative Caucus would support the team in its bid to reach the final.

Figure 1: Sen. Geraldine Doe-Sheriff, a member of Montserrado’s organizing committee. Photo: T. Kla Wesley, Jr.

“I’m happy as you can see. Monsterrado won, and now I’m celebrating,” she said. “A big thanks to players of the teams and the coaching staff. Because they are working harder, we are celebrating today. We are moving to the final and Lofa won’t stop us. As I speak, I can tell you that every lawmaker [of Monsterrado] is giving every needed support to the team. It’s our duty, and we won’t stay away from it. We will make sure everything goes on well until the end.”

Things could not go worse for Grand Gedeh, whose kickball team was also defeated by Margibi. They conceded 4-0 home runs, the widest winning margin in the quarterfinal matches. Margibi progressed to the semifinals and will meet Monsterrado, who they lost to in the Group D qualifiers.

Fixture for the Semifinals:

Featured photo by  T. Kla Wesley Jr.