LISCR FC’s match against Sudan’s Al Hilal at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium over the weekend, was the first international club match for a Liberian club since April 2017 after Barrack Young Controllers drew one-all against South Africa’s Super Sports United in the CAF Confederation Cup.
This was also the first international competitive match watched by former FIFA World Player of the Year, newly-elect President George Weah since his inauguration on January 22.
LISCR FC was under pressure to secure a favorable result in the presence of their new President who is formidable historical figure in the sport.
During the side’s past two appearances in the international club competition, the ‘Shipping Boys’ have failed to win a single match. In 2012 LISCR was thrashed 5-0 by BereKum Chelsea of Ghana following a 2-0 and 3-0 away, and home victories to follow. Later in 2013, Cameroonian side Union Douala became the stumbling block for LISCR after defeating the Liberian champions 3-1 on aggregate. However, the team under the guidance of Gambian coach Tapha Manneh, who has lots of experience in the continental competition has shown great improvement in both the domestic and continental scene.
As always in every match, both teams entered the match and delivered performances with the aim of collecting all three points, but it was the Liberian double champions that collected all three points, an achievement that will go down in history. Midfielder Sekou Sheriff alias, “Ball Passer” curved in a 20-minute free kick and silenced all doubts that he could score from the set-piece, which proved crucial to the Liberian side’s win. Nevertheless, LISCR’s supporters are quite knowledgeable about their dead ball specialist and were 80 percent optimistic that he could slot home the free kick, which he did.
Since joining the team during the second half of last season, midfielder Sheriff’s lone free kick goal against Al Hilal was his seventh out of nine set-pieces in all competitions and his first international.
All fingers are now crossed for the ‘Shipping Boys’ as they await the return leg slated for Tuesday, February 20 in Sudan.
Image: T Kla Wesley
