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Lone Star Slaps Niger's
Mena -
Revives Liberia's Hopes for Tunisia 2004
The NEWS (Monrovia)
October 14, 2002
George Bardue
Monrovia
The hopes of the Liberian national soccer squad, the
Lone Star, were put back on course at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex
in Paynesville with a 1-0 victory over the Mena of Niger.
The match which began at about 4:00p.m. local time on
Saturday, October 12, 2002, saw Liberia featuring youngsters in the likes of
Boye Pratt, Shelton Barlee, George Gebro, Varmah Kpoto, Jimmy Dixon, Larmin
Ousmane and Alvin Kieh. Others are Christopher Wreh, Dulee Johnson, Prince
Daye and Oscar Glaydor.
For the Mena of Niger, Belgium-based Tankari Ibrahim led the attack
along side Adam Hassau, Cawali Mamane, Anicet Psacal, Cally Koffi, Moustapha
Aly among others.
At the blast of the whistle, Lone Star took control of
the first 26 minutes of the match when attacking midfielder Dulee Johnson
disorganized the entire defense of Niger but failed to find the curtain
raiser.
The Nigeriens played a defensive game, leaving their half
vulnerable to frequent penetration by Lone Star.
In the 40th minute, debut player Alvin Kieh made a spectacular
drive in Niger's defense, forcing the visitors to commit a penalty foul.
Amidst jubilations from thousands of soccer fans who shouted "goal! goal!
goal!", Liberia's one time 'Wonder Boy' Christopher Wreh took hold of the
ball for the penalty kick.
Overwhelmed with excitement and anxiety, Christopher Wreh
disappointed the thousands of fans by kicking the penalty off the target.
The penalty-miss by Christopher Wreh left the huge crowd frustrated for the
rest of the first half of the match.
Back from recess however, Lone Star made more
attempts to find the curtain raiser but all efforts were thwarted by the
stubborn defense of Niger. In the 55th minute, the technical staff of Lone
Star brought in Isaac Tondo to replacing Oscar Glaydor, and in the 69th
minute Chris Wreh was replaced by Henry Gobah. In an attempt to resist
leaving the pitch Wreh was booed and jeered by the fans.
Following 80 minutes of play, an Isaac Tondo cross from
a Dulee Johnson pass landed on the leg of Henry Gobah , who wasted no time
in taking a powerful shot that hit the cross bar, meeting European-based
Prince Day on time for the lone goal that took the visitors home.
The victory for Lone Star over Niger has rekindled
Liberia's hopes for the 2004 African Nations Cup in Tunisia.
Three weeks ago, Sali National of Guinea dragged the
Lone Star 3-0 in Conakry, a defeat which dashed the hopes of Liberians for
the 2004 Nations Cup. Liberia is in Group Two with Niger, Ethiopia, and
Guinea.
The other match between Ethiopia and Guinea ended 1-0
in favor of the Ethiopians who also played at home. With Liberia and
Ethiopia winning 1-0 respectively at home means the group is now leveled
with each team accumulating three points from two matches |
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