Days after Lone Star qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage qualifiers, members on the team that eliminated Sierra Leone returned to their clubs with mixed results.
The skipper in the two games against Sierra Leone, Sam Johnson, might have been able to help Liberia qualify with a goal scored at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex on September 4, but he was unable to rescue his team, Real Salt Lake City, from a defeat to Minnesota United Football Club in the American Major League Soccer.
Johnson played 72 minutes in Real Salt Lake’s 3-1 defeat away at Minnesota United. The 26-year-old is Real Salt Lake’s leading goal scorer in the 2019 Major League Soccer season with nine goals in 22 games.
Similarly, Kpah Sherman was unable to prevent his PKNS FC from bowing to defeat in the ongoing Malaysia Cup. Sherman, who didn’t get a goal in the two games against Sierra Leone, scored the only goal for PKNS FC in their 3-1 defeat to Negeri Sembilan. The defeat leaves PKNS FC with no hope of making it to the next round as they sit bottom of Group A with four points from five games.
Murphy Oscar Dorley played 35 minutes in his club Slovan Liberec’s 1-1 draw with Teplice in the Czech Liga. Dorley has been one of Lone Star’s best players since his debut against Tunisia on September 5, 2015. Starting from the bench, he was introduced in the 55th minute with the score at 1-1 and was unable to help his side pull a win. The draw leaves Slovan Liberec 10th on the league table with 10 points from nine games.
In more positive news, the newcomer to the Lone Star, Seth Hellberg, continued his winning spree, with his club IK Brage winning their 13th game of the season. IK Brage kept alive hopes of qualification to the Swedish top tier with a 3-1 over Dalkurd IF. Hellberg played for 74 minutes before being replaced by Swedish midfielder, Oscar Lundin.
Seth Hellberg vs Sierra Leone. Photo: T Kla Wesley Jr.
Former LISCR Football Club midfielder Allen Njie started a game from the bench for the first time this season for his club Grasshopper Club Zurich in their much-needed win in the Switzerland Cup. Njie played the last 25 minutes in Grasshopper’s narrow 1-0 win over Swiss Super League side Servette. Njie’s Grasshopper moved to the Swiss Cup quarterfinals, where they’ll play against another Super League side, FC Luzern.
Russian-based forward Sylvanus Nimely, who was an unused substitute in Liberia’s two games against Sierra Leone, returned to club action with his side Spartak Moscow II that competes in the Russian First Division. Nimely played the full 90 minutes in Spartak Moscow II’s 2-2 draw away at Tom Tomsk. Spartak Moscow II sits 12th on the Russian First Division league table with 16 points from 12 games. Nimely has scored two goals in 12 games for the Russian club this season.
English based midfielder, Mohammed Sangare who scored his first goal for Liberia in the 3-1 win over Sierra Leone at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports complex, returned to club action with Newcastle United’s U-23 team that plays in the Premier League 2 Division 2. Sangare played the full 90 minutes in Newcastle’s narrow 3-2 win over Norwich City U-23. Newcastle United U-23 is seventh on the league table with six points from five games. Sangare has featured in all of the five league games.
Mohammed Sangare warming up in Freetown. Photo: T Kla Wesley Jr.
South African based forward, Terrence Tisdell made his second start for Baroka FC in their 2-0 win over Black Leopards FC. Tisdell, who scored his first goal for Liberia in the 3-1 win over Sierra Leone at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports, played 55 minutes in Baroka’s win. Tisdell is yet to score for Baroka. He’s played five games for the Ga-Mphahlele bases club. Baroka are sixth on the ABSA Premiership log with eight points.
Expelled forward Tonia Tisdell, who played only the first leg against Sierra Leone, returned to club action with a goal to help his club, Nea Salamis, grab a narrow 3-2 win over Olympiakos Nicosia on match day-3 of the Cypriot 2019-20 Division One season. Tisdell, who recently extended his stay with the club, scored his first goal of the season in his second game.
Meanwhile, Teah Dennis returned to club action with a goal for his new club Minerva Punjab F.C. in India. Dennis scored the opener in Minerva Punjab 4-0 win over Keshar SC in the Punjab Super League.
Alvin Maccornel, who did a goal line clearance in 15th minute in Freetown to save Liberia from conceding an early goal, featured for the full 90 minutes for LPRC Oilers FC in Liberia’s off-season Who Owns the Land tournament. Maccornel played his usual role in central defense in the Oil Boys’ 2-2 draw with Watanga FC in the first leg.
Liberia’s hero in Sierra Leone, Ashley Williams, was given time to rest along with his teammate, Tommy Songo of LISCR FC. The duo were left out of LISCR Football Club’s 4-0 win over Stages Football Club in the Who Owns the Land tournament. Christopher Jackson, who was introduced late in Liberia’s 3-1 win over Sierra Leone at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, scored all four goals for LISCR FC.
Christopher Jackson celebrates his four goals against Stages FC. Photo: T Kla Wesley Jr.
Featured Photo courtesy of T Kla Wesley.
