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Big Upset at ATS
“Agali’s” Hat Trick Sends Barrolle Fans Crying

 

Michael “Agali” Amakaeze center celebrates his hat trick against Barrolle

By M.V. Paasewe
May 19, 2002

In an encounter that has been dubbed as “the most exciting match of the league season so far”, defending champions Mighty Barrolle today savored the bitter taste of defeat for the first time since the Liberia Football Association 2002-2003 national football league commenced a month ago.

George Haddad’s Alliance FC did the damage to the Rollers 3-2 at the refurbished Antoinette Tubman Stadium on UN Drive.

Alliance’s enterprising striker Michael “Agali” Amakaeze was evidently the man of the match as he rummaged Barrolle's defense to score a hat trick that registered the first defeat for Liberia’s “Real Madrid”.

Barrolle, playing in their usual red and white colors, could not manage to hold on to an early minute Alfred Coleman lead as “Agali” Amakaeze equalized for Alliance, playing in blue and white, in the dying minutes of the first half when his well-aimed shot hit the back of Barrolle’s net from a corner kick.

Midway in the second half, “Agali” again increased the tally for Alliance when he disorganized the Barrolle defense; although coach Vava George’s Gbezohn Boys reconsolidated their midfield and found the equalizer in the 61st minute when Prince Garwo walked into Alliance’s goal.

Just when everyone thought the game would have ended on a draw, “Agali” caused havoc in “Real Madrid’s” defense. “Agali” was bodily brought down and the ref wasted no time to call for a penalty kick, which “Agali” again converted expertly.

The multitude of Barrolle fans could not hide their disappointment at the ref’s decision to grant a last-minute penalty to Alliance.

The win now places Alliance FC and Mighty Barrolle on par with nine points apiece, although Barrolle has an edge over goal difference.

Div. II
Earlier, Devereux FC and Roots played to a 1-1 draw at the ATS. Abdul Kromah scored Devereux’s goal in the 85th minute, while George Reeves replied for Roots two minutes later.

In a second Division II encounter, SOS Trotters walked over Cardinals 3-1 at the ATS.

Cardinals found the curtain raiser in the 23rd minute through Menwoe Kollie. But SOS’s Abraham Dolo replied in the 29th minute.

Junior Wilson’s two goals in the 35th and 57th minutes gave the Cardinals their first defeat since the national football league commenced.