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Good Result, Poor Performance
How
Lone Star Survived against Palancas Negras
Highlights, Statistics
Wleh Bedell
The Lone Star of Liberia the Lone Star, on Wednesday, August
10, held fellow 1996 African Nations Cup debutants, Angola’s
Palancas Negras to tough 0-0 draw at a not-too packed Samuel
Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium. This was quite a major test for
both Liberia and Angola as they prepare for their crunch
fixtures against the Warriors of Zimbabwe and the Cranes of
Uganda respectively in their group qualifiers for places in
the Gabon-Equatorial Guinea, 2012 African football fiesta.
Tactical Line-Ups
From the blast of home referee Jerry Yekeh’s whistle, the
visitors went on the front foot. In their tried and trusted
4-3-3 formation which was spearheaded by Spanish club Real
Valladolid towering forward Manucho where Portuguese
Champions FC Porto Djalma Campos and German club SC Pruben
Munster Jose Pierre Vunguidica served as the wide men to
complete the 2006 World Cup debutants trident strike force,
the visitors made early in-roads.
Instead of the normal two offense oriented midfielders and a
holding midfielder in the middle of the park, Lito Vidigal’s
charges implored the opposite with AEL Limassol of Cyprus
hard man Dede and Miguel Quiame of local side Petro Luanda
sitting in front the back four as Andre Macanga of Kuwaiti
outfit Al- Jahra was given the license to spray the passes
to team mates who were lurking to pounce on their opponents.
The back four showed solidity with Royal Zalata Congo of
Desportivo 1’, Francisco Zuela Dos Santos from Atromitos in
Greece, Luis L. Da Silva of UD Alzira in Spain and Marco
Airosa of AEL Limassol completing the quartet in defense
which provided a shield for the giant-sized shot stopper
Carlos Fernandes of Turkish side Bucaspor.
As for the Lone Star under the tutelage the Italian Roberto
Landi, the red, white and blue charges started on the back
foot with the opposition dictating the rhythm and imposing
their aggressive style football blended with swift passing.
Local goalkeeper from UMC Roots Nathaniel Sherman was the
custodian between the sticks under the flood light in the
team’s 4-4-2 formation which always looked like a 4-2-4
formation due to a preponderance of forwards as well as the
ability for the flank players to play wide continuously. The
back four which was flat, was controlled by Invincible
Eleven (IE) resourceful but sometimes erratic Trokon Zeon,
and the unattached, but fresh from China hard working
all-rounder George Gebro as full back occupiers. Barrack
Young Controllers newly signed on rearguard Teah Dennis
combined with LPRC Oilers lithe marker Solomon Wesseh to
complete the number in the defensive third.
In the middle of the park, Romanian side Astra Poleista
shield holder Ben Teekloh who served as stand-in Captain was
sitting in front of the defense with Swedish club Hammarby
sublimely gifted left footer Isaac Pupo sitting in the hole
behind the front two. The lanky and inventive Swedish outfit
BK Hacken front man Dioh Williams styled down the right
channel with the colored-hair debutant Ansu Toure from Swiss
club Locarno providing width down the left channel. Egyptian
champs Al-Ahly fringe member Francis Doe and Russian title
contenders CSKA Moscow marauding runner Sekou Jabateh Oliseh
served as partners-in-crime.
Jabateh and Dioh would alternate positions as they tried to
take on opponents and as well operate as decoys.
Highlights
3mins.A flick from Manucho goes sailing in the path
of goaltender Nathaniel Sherman which he catches in a
routine manner.
5mins. Ben Teekloh is stretched off the pitch due to
a crunch tackle by an opponent.
9mins.Manucho’s flick from a throw-in deep in Lone
Star’s half is saved by goalie Sherman.
14mins.A nice exchange of passes from Dioh Williams
and Isaac Pupo after great skills from the former brings
Francis Doe into play whose shot goes wide.
15mins.Ansu Toure makes a strong run only to see his
cross cum shot blocked by a committed Francisco Zuela Dos
Santos.
17mins.Isaac Pupo’s in swinging free kick from 20
yards is dealt with via a heady clearance from an opponent.
19mins.The industrious George Gebro who had made a
plethora of descent coverage is substituted by Barrack Young
Controllers (BYC) burly defender Myers Garlo due to a
serious rip injury.
23mins.Another injury on the side of the hosts as
balanced midfielder Ben Teekloh is stretched off the pitch
due to a knee injury.
24mins.Isaac Pupo’s free kick meets a lurking Myers
Garlo at the back post who heads wide.
25mins. Ben Teekloh’s injury cannot permit him to
take any further part in the match dubbed West Africa verses
South Africa as he is replaced by Mighty Barrolle’s Martin
Karndu who returned from an unsuccessful trial in the land
of Zlatan Ibrahimovic few days to the duel.
26mins.The face of the Palancas Negras attack,
Manucho, appeals for foul after being outwitted by three
defenders as he tries to outpace them and head for the
ultimate.
27mins.A disappointing free kick by Djalmo Campos
from a promising position is easily saved by Nathaniel
Sherman.
33mins. Sekou Jabateh’s feeble shot is away from the
goal area, Trokon Zeon is later yellow carded for a clumsy
tackle.
35mins. Jabateh’s body swerving shot narrowly sails
over the by-line.
37mins. Martin Karndu surprisingly escapes a yellow
card as referee Jerry Yekeh decides no to do so after
tripping a raging opponent.
40mins.A cheeky volley from former Manchester United
peripheral member Manucho, goes off target.
44mins.Ansu Toure has all the time to give an early
cross but decides to take on an opponent which does not
materialize and pleas to referee Jerry Yekeh for a free
kick, but to no avail.
By the end of the first stanza, it is a more tactically
discipline Palancas Negras being held blank by a resilient
and more individualistic Lone Star set of players.
Second half begins with the diminutive Dulee Johnson of
Dutch Erdivisie side De Grafschaap coming on for Ansu Toure.
49mins.Martin Karndu’s delicious thru ball eludes
Francis Doe as goalkeeper Fernandes makes a comfortable
catch.
50mins. Lone Star gets a direct free kick after an
Infringement is called against goalie Fernandes after he
misjudged and takes much time to release the ball to a
teammate, Pupo’s in swinging shot deceives the opponents
defensive wall, but is parried by the burly gloves man for a
corner.
51mins. Dulee’s low corner at the near post is
cleared into safety.
52mins. Francis Doe gets more adventurous as he
drives pass a couple of opponents, but his goal bound shot
is blocked by a crowded gold and black defensive setup.
54mins.A well orchestrated set piece from Pierre
Vunguidica is saved by Nathaniel Sherman.
57mins. A Less firing Isaac Pupo makes way for LISCR
FC inventive Patrick Wleh who recently returned from an
unsuccessful trial in the land of World Cup 2010.
61mins.Teah Dennis, Jr. makes a timely intervention
to deny a pouncing Manucho from scoring.
66mins.What can be described as the visitors closest
chance falls to Jose Pierre. His close range shot looks goal
bound, but brave defending from Myers Garlo and Nathaniel
Sherman rescues the situation.
74mins.Former Tonnerre Klara club hit-man Francis Doe
glides onto a thru ball and races for goal, but a robust
Luis L. da Silva makes a timely intervention.
76mins. Visitors reduced to ten men after defender
Zuela is red carded for intentionally handling a ball.
76mins.net minder Nathaniel Sherman manages to save
an engagement shot from close range.
78mins. The disbanded Andorrence man Martin Kendo and
ex-Floda Boif playmaker Dulee Johnson stand accused of
pointless touches as the Southern Africans build an attack
quickly as they race to the attacking third.
79mins. Never stop running Manucho’s free kick is
ricocheted on the back of a player in the Lone Star wall for
a corner.
80mins.The virtually untested hair-braided Fernandes
is replaced by local club Desportivo de Agosto last line of
defense Wilson Alegre.
81mins. ‘Tabelleh King’ award winner Sekou Jabateh
Oliseh misses a glorious opportunity from very close range,
thanks to a defense splitting pass from Grandpa Doe which
nestled on the boot of Patrick Wleh, surprisingly, the
international debutant (September 5, 2010) scorer shot is
miscued as the Angolans breath an air of relief.
82mins. Sekou receives standing ovation as Roberto
Landi decides to replace him with LPRC Oilers jammer James
Soto Roberts.
83mins. Dulee’s penetration pass releases Soto who is
upended for a free kick.
84mins.The resulting free kick from Grand pa has
direction but lacks venom as it makes its way comfortably to
newcomer goalie Wilson.
85mins. Manucho who works the whole evening and shows
good mentality makes way for a fresh pair of legs.
87Mins. Dioh and Grand pa use their skills to greater
effect as the latter is fouled for a free Kick.
89mins. Resulting free kick is bundled away for a
corner.
90+ 2mins.Watanga FC linchpin Leon Power Quamie goes
in for an injured Patrick Wleh, and with little or no time,
Jerry Yekeh calls the party to an end as both sides end with
some promise and plenty to take home. The Angolans were more
physical and tactically austere, while the Lone Star looked
a bit negative as they attacked with fewer men with the full
backs neglecting overlapping runs. Also, they were more of
individuals than a team.
Statistics
Liberia Angola
Shots on
Goal---------------3------------------------------------4
Free
Kicks---------------------4------------------------------------4
Crosses
(Left)-----------------3------------------------------------8
Crosses
(Right)---------------1------------------------------------5
Corners------------------------5-------------------------------------8
Thru
Balls----------------------6-------------------------------------9
Throw-ins---------------------25----------------------------------27
Offside------------------------5--------------------------------------7
Yellow
Cards------------------1-------------------------------------1
Red
Cards----------------------0--------------------------------------1
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