“We’re Back in Form”,
Says Coach Ray Morton
As IE Convincingly Whips ROZA 2-1
By M.V. Paasewe
May 26, 2002

Liberia’s darling club Invincible Eleven (IE) yesterday sent a strong warning to opponents that it is still a force to reckon with, when they convincingly flogged young blood ROZA-FC 2-1 Saturday afternoon at the refurbished Antoinette Tubman Stadium in continuation of the Liberia Football Association 2002-2003 national football league.

 

 

The match itself was a prize one to watch where both teams exhibited soccer wizardry reminiscent of the Glorious ‘70s and Golden ‘80s, when “tabella” truly rolled in Liberia.

From the blast of the ref’s whistle, IE, playing in their usual yellow and blue colors, took supremacy of the midfield and executed superb onslaughts on ROZA’s crack defense. Had it not been for the agility of ROZA’s ace goalie, IE’s first three attempts at goal would have borne results.

The persistency of attacks from a rejuvenated IE however proved fatal for ROZA (playing in orange jerseys) when midfielder Peterson “John Barnes” Doe collected a lob pass from comeback veteran Tony Bracewell, and displaced ROZA’s goalie in the 43rd minute.

Fleet-footed Tony Bracewell increased IE’s score line in the 45th minute when he took a solo drive outside ROZA’s 18-yard box and spaced the ‘keeper with a well-timed volley.

ROZA commenced the second half more determined to equalize, but IE’s reorganized defense withstood the blitzkrieg until the 50th minute when a costly blunder from IE’s central defender resulted in a penalty kick which Alfred Kortu nicely converted for ROZA.

The goal from ROZA goal however increased IE’s furor as they led attack after attack on their opponent’s disorganized defense. It was a surprise that ROZA held IE 2-1 until the final blast of the ref’s whistle.

Former IE and Lone Star ace goalie, Raymond Morton, who now coaches Invincible Eleven, attributed his team’s success to a change in tactical defense, from zonal to man-to-man marking.

In a post-match interview with Lone Star Soccer coach Morton said, “During our previous games, we were playing the 4-4-2 formation, but found out that it didn’t work, so we changed to the 5-4-1, which means you have one striker on top, four in the middle and five defenders.”

Morton said he decided to start aging but swift-footed Tony Bracewell in Saturday’s match because Tony “blends well with other enterprising strikers like scorer ‘John Barnes,’ Lincoln Gartay and Kwame Howard”.

Morton further revealed that the lack of funds to register all of the players that featured in Saturday’s match had been the cause of IE’s haggard previous showing in the LFA league. He however assured fans and supporters of the club that with the payment of players’ fees water under the bridge, IE is “back in form”.

Div. II (Female)
Meanwhile, Pointer Sisters and Lioness FC clashed Saturday at the ATS in the Female Div II category of the LFA national football league. Pointer Sisters’ Patricia Wesseh (33rd min), Oretha Brown (50th min.) and Miatta Lunnah (66th min.) were on target.

Pro Sisters also massacred Y-Enforcers 4-1 at the same venue. Britt Barblee and Helen Faiyiah scored two goals apiece for Pro Sisters in the 50th and 89th minute, and the 39th and 61st minute respectively. Olivia Anderson scored Y-Enforcers’ lone goal in the early 14th minute.
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