MONROVIA: The “Lone Star” of Liberia has moved to second place in Group G of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nation qualifier following an emphatic 1-0 win over the Warriors of Zimbabwe on Sunday at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports (SKD).
As usual it was “Golden Boy” William Jebor who netted the lone and important goal that saw the red, white and blue outfit secured seventh points from five matches in a quest to reach Cameroon 2019.
Thomas Kojo’s men started on a slow pace and failed to create any clear-cut scoring chance in the first half of the match.
The second half became inspiring with Anthony Laffor almost setting the SKD at blaze, but the Mamelodi Sundown’s attacker lifted the ball off target after a blunder from goalkeeper Sibanda of Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwean stopper came out to balloon the ball, but it was blocked by Jebor and Laffor just needed to place it in the empty net, but the ball flew over the bar to the dismay of the Lone Star supporters.
Zimbabwe who needed just a point in the game to secure a place at next year Africa Cup of Nation came close on two occasions in the second half but strikers Tino Kadewere and Khama Billiat failed to make use of the opportunity.
With lack of creativity in the Lone Star attack, Coach Thomas Kojo brought on Sparta Moscow’s Sylvanus Nimely for Kpah Sherman and the former Monrovia Club Breweries winger collaborated well with Tonia Tisdell to create the goal for Liberia.
Nimely tactically broke the Zimbabwean defense with a clinical pass for Tisdell and the Turkish-based attacker superbly rolled the ball through and Jebor was on time to put it at the back of the net.
Goalkeeper Ashley Williams who turned 18 last week earned his first clean sheet, while Barrack Young Controller (BYC) Eugene Swen made his debut as he came on for Anthony Laffor. Newcastle United Mohammed Sangare has to still wait for his debut as he was an unused substitute in the paring.
Liberia moved second in the Zone with seven points, after DR Congo held Congo Brazzaville to a 1-1 draw in Brazzaville also on Sunday.
The last round of matches in the Group will be played in March 2019 and Liberia will need just a point away to Democratic Republic of Congo to go through.
