Leone Stars make a winning start in World Cup qualifiers with a victory over Cape Verde
Leone Stars start well in 2014 world cup qualifiers (Photo credit: Fred Claye)
The victory puts Leone Stars second in group B of
the 2014 World Cup qualifiers on goal difference behind Tunisia who defeated
Equatorial Guinea 3-1 at home on Saturday.
The visitors looked dangerous in the early minutes of play but overall it was
Leone Stars who dominated play and created more clear chances.
Leone Stars were dangerous on corner kicks as two of their several corners
resulted to goals and others to near misses.
Blue Sharks of Cape Verde lose opening world cup qualifying match to Leone Stars
The Blue Sharks attacker Fortes Odair got the first clear chance of the game when his kick from a scramble from
the goal mouth was saved by Leone Stars goalie Christian Caulker and the
rebound was cleared off to corner kick by skipper Ibrahim Kargbo.
Three minutes later Leone Stars responded with the opening goal of the game as
Serbia based Mohamed 'Medo' Kamara scored direct from a corner kick from the
left to register his first international goal.
Sheriff Suma who was very impressive throughout the game accounted for the
second goal and it was beautiful taken. His acrobatic strike from a rebound
after a corner kick went in to the far right corner after 26 minutes.
The Azerbaijan based player was recently on trial with French club Olympic de
Marseille and officials of at club were at the National Stadium watching him to
assess him.
Before Suma's brilliant strike, debutant Alhassan Kamara who plays in the
Swedish top flight league had a goal disallowed by the Ghanaian referee for an
off side.
Former Inter Milan and Monaco hitman Mohamed Kallon and Norway based Khalifa
Jabbie were introduced in the second half by Coach Lars Olof Mattsson.
The two teams missed possible opportunities in the second half before Andrade
Jose pulled a goal back for the visitors four minutes into stoppage time but it
was too little too late as the Leone Stars held on.
Saturday's game was the ninth meeting between Sierra Leone and Cape Verde with
the former winning five and latter accounting for three victories and there was
one draw.
Leone Stars travel to Malabo to face Equatorial Guinea in their fixture in the
World Cup qualifiers next weekend whilst Cape Verde host Tunisia.
Sierra Leone line-up: 1, Christian Caulker (GK), 17, Umaru Bangura, 11, Sheriff
Suma , 3, Ibrahim Koroma, 6, Ibrahim Kargbo (Capt), 7 Samuel Barlay, 4, Mohamed
Kamara, 5, Mohamed Bangura, 8, Alhassan Bangura (Mohamed Kallon 72'), 13, Kei
Kamara, 9, Ibrahim Teteh Bangura
(Khalifa Jabbie 88')
Subs: 34, Unisa Bangura (GK), 2, Mohamed Fornah, 18, Julius Conteh, 12, Gibrila
Lalas Fofanah, 14, Khalifa Jabbie, 15, Alfi Conteh, 10, Mohamed Kallon
Coach: Lars Olof Mattsson
Cape Verde line-up: 1, Soares Ernesto (GK), Tavares Lanique, 3, Varela Fernando,
5, Macelo Elvis, 6, Neves Fernando (Capt-Y.Card 17'), 7, Fortes Odair (Soares
Marco 60'), 10, Ramos Heldon(Y.Card 45'), 16, Santos Stenio, 17, Amodu Walder (Semedo Jorge
59'), 19, Andrade Jose, 20, Tavares Carlos
Subs: 12, Damba Nelson, Lima, 4, Lima Josimar, 8, Monteiro Antonio, 9, Semedo
Jorge, Aguiar Claudio, 13, Soares Luis, 14, Barros Admilson, 15, Soares Marco, 18, Santos Nivaldo
Coach: Lucio Antunes
Ref: Agbui Williams (Ghana)
AR1: Salifu Malik (Ghana)
AR2: Laryea David (Ghana)
RR: Bomison Hamidu (Ghana)
Ref Assessor: Charles Musembe (Uganda)
MC: Soubauleymane Magasso
Leone Stars line-up vs Cape Verde (Photo credit: Fred Claye)
Leone Stars Sheriff Suma (L) and Umaru Bangura (R) (Photo credit: Fred Claye)
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