Wologisi FC, Philadelphia Lonestar, Mighty Enforcers And Discoveries S.A Advance To The Semifinals
By Jerome C. Willie, Jr. boyzwill26@gmail.com
The big eight came to climax early this week at the ATS on the UN Drive in central Monrovia.
It was on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 when there were moment of joy for all of the winning teams, while tears of sadness poured down the faces of the losers, as their hopes of gaining promotion to the second division came to a complete end.
In the opening games of the quarterfinal stage, Wologisi FC got through pass over Gompa FC during a dramatic penalty shootout after scoreless full 90 minutes of classical football displayed at the oldest examination hall for Liberian football—the ATS.
The Lofa County club ,Wologisi FC defeated Nimba County outfit club Gompa FC 8-7 to gain passage to the semifinals stage of the competition.
Wologisi FC is the only team from Lofa County so far in the competition. The Champions of Lofa County Wologisi FC is yet to taste a single defeat in the competition. The team played 3 games in the preliminary rounds with one win and two draws in the competition accumulating 5 points and clinching runner-up slot in Group H.
How did Wologisi FC get a ride to the Semifinals?
Wologisi FC gained qualification to the 2023 Playoffs after clinching a place in the LFA- Lofa Sub-Association 2022-2023 Third Division League Season. At the Playoffs, Wologisi FC got her first win on 28 May at ATS with a 2-0 score over Mighty Enforcers (Nimba County).
In game two at the George Weah Technical Center on 30 May Caldwell United FC Monsterrado) held Wologisi FC to a two-all draw.
Caldwell United got the equalizer in the added time after the full 90 minutes of play to salvage a point.
And in the team’s final match of Group H, Wologisi FC and Africa Sports Academy (Margibi) played to a two-all draw at the ATS on 1 June to clinch runner-up slot in Group H.
The 2022-2023 LFA- Lofa Sub-Association Champions Wologisi FC won a narrow 1-0 win over Maryland County outfit club NPA IV at the ATS on 3 June to advance to the Quarterfinals stage of the competition.
They gained a ticket to the semifinals stage after an 8-7 win in a post-match penalty shootout over Gompa FC (Nimba County) on 6 June 2023.
The penalties shootout marks the second post-match penalty shootout in the competition and first in the quarterfinals.
New Horizon Football Academy (Margibi) and United Boomers FC ( Bomi ) match marks the first post-match penalty in the competition during the Round of 16 at the ATS on 4 June where the Margibi County club, New Horizon Football Academy defeated United Boomers FC in post-match penalty. That came after a one-all draw at full-time.
Who’s next?
Wologisi FC face Discoveries S.A in the game of the competition.
Wologisi FC and Discoveries S. A. match marks the first meeting of both clubs in the competition but marks the second time for Wologisi FC to play against a Monsterrado County outfit team in the competition.
The Lofa County Champions Wologisi FC first meeting with a Montserrado County outfit club was on 30 May 2023 at the George Weah Technical Center in Careburgs where they were held to a two-all draw with Caldwell United.
Can Wologisi FC break Discoveries S.A unbeaten run and become the first team to gain promotion to second division from Lofa County?
In other results from the ATS, Philadelphia Lonestar maintain the 100 % record in the competition along with Discoveries S.A.
The two teams from Montserrado County have not recorder a single defeat or a draw in the competition.
Philadelphia Lonestar (Monsterrado) defeated New Horizon Football Academy ( Margibi) 2-0 after a goalless first half to progress to the big four of the competition.
How did Philadelphia Lonestar get a ride to the Semifinals?
Philadelphia Lonestar got a slot after a splendid performance in the Montserrado County Championship. Though they did not clinch the Championship but rather gain a slot as one of the five teams to represent Montserrado County.
The Central Monrovia Sub-Committee 3rd Division 2022-2023 Champions Philadelphia Lonestar started the journey with a 3-1 win over Dominion FC (Nimba County) at the ATS on 26 May 2023.
The Montserrado County outfit club Philadelphia Lonestar got another win over Bomi County outfit club Blue Lake at the ATS on the UN Drive on 30 May where they defeated the opponent 3-1.
And on the final day of group matches Philadelphia Lonestar defeated Wee Defenders FC (Grand Bassa County) 5 -1 on 3 June at the ATS to climax its final group game, accumulating 9 points from 3 games played without a draw or a defeat.
Philadelphia Lonestar got through the group stage as group leader. The Montserrado County outfit club Philadelphia Lonestar topped Group A with 9 points and so far the only team to seal in a win all its group stage matches.
Who’s next?
Philadelphia Lonestar ( Monsterrado) and Mighty Enforcer FC ( Nimba) meet in the big four of the semi-final stage of the competition. The meeting marks the first between the two clubs in the competition but will see the Montserrado County outfit club Philadelphia Lonestar FC meeting a team from Nimba County for the second time in the competition.
Philadelphia Lonestar FC played Champions Dominion FC of Nimba County in the opening fixture at the ATS on 26 May in a 3-1 thrashing encounter in favor of Philadelphia Lonestar FC.
Can Coach Julius Nah, alias ” Michael Essien” of Philadelphia Lonestar FC makes this dream come true?
As for game three Cyrus Moore brace and Lassana Kamara alias goals sealed a surprise convincing 3-0 win for Mighty Enforcers FC over competition favorites Pepper FC.
Team’s skippers Cyrus Moore and Lassana Kamara goals booked a space for the Nimba County outfit club Mighty Enforcers FC.
Mighty Enforcers FC is the only representative at the competition so far from Nimba County and has tasted a defeat.
How did they get a ride to the semifinals?
There is no doubt that Mighty Enforcers FC must be given a hand of applaud for such brilliant football displayed. The Nimba County outfit club Mighty Enforcers FC who gain qualifications to the 2023 Playoffs after winning a third place match in the LFA- Nimba Sub-Association.
The team started its journey on a bad footing after conceding a 2-0 defeat in the opening fixture after a splendid performance at the ATS on 26 May against Wologisi FC of Lofa County.
Mighty Enforcers FC did not keep the hope down but such dream came to a reality during round two as they defeated the Champions of Margibi County Africa Sports Academy 2-0 at the George Weah Technical Center in Careysburg outside Monrovia on 30 May.
In the final game during the group stage, Mighty Enforcers FC pinned Caldwell United 1-0 on 3 June at the Tusa Field Sports Stadium in Monrovia’s Gardnerville suburb to gain passage to the knockout stage of the competition.
The Ganta-based club Mighty Enforcers FC progressed to the knockout stage of the competition clinching top spot in Group H collecting 6 points from 3 games played.
Two wins and a single defeat help Mighty Enforcers FC to gain passage to the knockout stage of the competition.
How semifinals journey started?
Mighty Enforcers FC defeated Pepper FC 3-0 at the ATS on 6 June in the quarterfinal stage of the competition.
Prior to such match with Pepper FC, Mighty Enforcers FC suffers a defeat during the preliminary rounds of the competition but put such mistakes or defeat behind then and move on with two wins to gain such hope of gaining promotion to the second division of the National League.
Who’s next?
Mighty Enforcers FC face a huge task ahead but such match cannot be underrated dued to the excellent soccer displayed exhibited by Mighty Enforcers FC on 6 June where they won a convincing 3-0 defeat over Pepper FC. Many football pundits, sports lovers and others saw it as unbelievable, but in the game of soccer anyone could be the winner.
They are so far the only team in the semifinals stage of the competition to have tasted a defeat.
Will they end Philadelphia Lonestar’s unbeaten run or Can Nimba County produce a second division team for the upcoming Orange National League-2nd Division League Season?
In conclusion, arguably, they are now the favorites in the competition from the young lads Discoveries S.A since the exit of Champions Pepper FC, for which they have won many soccer hearts. This is due to ball coordination and most especially the pattern of play with referring to Coach Ansu Keita of the Senior National Men’s Team, the Lone Star as “tawo tawo football”.
Discoveries S.A are a side to reckon with. They are fearles in attack and in defense. The Johnsonville Sub Committee back-to-back champions got a ride to the semi-final stage of the competition after a comfortably 3-0 win over Brewerville United FC at the same venue of the quarterfinal stage.
Cephas Gbarbo, Jon Freeman and Saah Mosses goals sealed Discoveries S.A qualification to the big four of the competition as they continue the unbeaten run.
How did they start such journey?
They gain a slot as runner-up after the 1-0 defeat to Champions Pepper FC in the Montserrado County Championship after winning the Johnsonville Sub Committee League for the second time in a row.
They got a win in their opening fixture against Zone 4 United of Maryland County at the ATS on 28 May where they won 3-2.
In the team’s second fixture they humiliated New Horizon Football Academy of Margibi County 4-0 at the George Weah Technical Center on 30 May. The defeat marks the heaviest defeat ever in the history of New Horizon Football Academy in such competition.
And in the group final match Discoveries S.A demolished Power From Heaven of Rivercess County 20-0 on June 1 at the George Weah Technical Center.
Discoveries S.A win over the champions of Rivercess County Power From Heaven marks the biggest win ever in the history of the National Third Division Playoffs.
The Montserrado County outfit club Discoveries S.A came out as Group G with 9 points from three games and becoming one of the team in the competition with an unbeaten record since the start of the competition. They defeated all three of the opponents in the group stage of the competition.
Who’s next?
Discoveries S.A and Wologisi FC meet in the second match of the semi-final stage of the competition at the ATS on 9 June a win for either side means they gain promotion to the second division.
It is indeed a game to watch because both teams yet to taste a defeat since the kickoff of the competition.
Though Champions Wologisi FC came as runner-up from the Group, they were able to grab two wins and a draw to keep the hope alive.
Will Discoveries S.A upset Wologisi FC or will Discoveries S.A gain promotion to the second division in the debut season of the National Third Division Playoffs?
About the Playoffs
Thirty-two third division clubs representing 14 counties kickoff the tournament on 25 May at the ATS on the UN Drive in a round robin with two clubs gaining promotion to the knockout stage of the competition.
This year’s edition is held in Montserrado County which the tournament was showcased at four venues which include the George Weah Technical Center in Careburgs , SKD PP in Paynesville, Tusa Field Sports Stadium in Gardnerville and the ATS on the UN Drive.
What is the Playoffs?
The Playoff is an annual event of the LFA held in one County or a Co-host rotational.
This local football event is used to promote clubs from third division to second division of the National League.
Three teams gain promotion to the second division of the National League which include the Playoffs Champions, runner-up and third place match winner.
The third place final and grand final of the competition is schedule for 11 June 2023 at the ATS on the UN Drive.
Montserrado County outfit club Paynesville FC won the last edition of the National Third Division Playoffs held in Grand Bassa County.