MONROVIA, Monsterrado – When the groups for the 2015-2016 Liberia National County Meet were drawn up, few would have expected so many powerhouses of Liberia’s most prestige tournament to bow out in embarrassing ways.
Football viewers are always warned to expect the unexpected and the current tournament has not disappointed.
Bigger counties like Nimba, Margibi, and Grand Bassa have always dominated the scene at the group stages. But it has not been the case this time around.
Following the second round, it is the underrated counties that are making headways.
Grand Bassa was awarded two goals after players and officials from Sinoe interrupted the game. Meanwhile, the 2009 runner-up, River Gee, has booked its quarter-finals place after a 1-0 win over Bong.
Group 2 host Nimba kept its hopes of qualification to the quarter-finals alive by beating Cape Mount 2-1 at the Sanniquellie pitch. The defeat means Cape Mount is out of the tournament after conceding two straight losses.
Maryland, who were considered underdogs before the start of the tournament, look set to enter the quarter-finals. The South Eastern side held giant Nimba to a 1-1 in their first match and whipped 2009 champions Bomi 2-1.
Bomi took a 14th-minute lead by Amara Telleh’s strike, but Patrick Williams leveled things for Maryland in the 53rd minute. Bomi’s hopes of obtaining a point came to an end in the 66th minute when Thomas Koffa scored Maryland’s winning goal.
Lofa County has qualified for the quarter-finals after its second successive victory. The county that is considered an underdog beat Grand Gedeh 1-0 in the Group 3 opening match and recorded its second victory with a 2-1 win over 2007 champions River Cess.
Group 3 host Grand Gedeh got its first win to hold a spot in the quarter-finals. The 2010 losing finalist lost the opening match with Lofa but came back strong in its second game, besting Grand Kru by a single goal.
Montserrado became the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament, despite losing 0-1 to Gbarpolu in the Group 4Â match at the Nancy B. Doe Sports Stadium in Kakata.
A 47th-minute goal from Gbarpolu’s Brown Kortu was enough to give his side all three points. Montserrado qualified due to a 3-1 win against Margibi on Sunday.
The result has made things difficult for host Margibi, who will need at least a 2-0 win over Gparpolu if they are to progress to the quarters finals.
