Lone Star Was Spirited Against Nigeria


By Wleh Bedell
bedellblessing@yahoo.com
+231886106293

It was a thrilling derby between the Lone Star of Liberia and the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the first leg, final round of the 2013 Afcon at the SKD. The Lone Star of Liberia who entered the fray as underdogs surprised their more illustrious opponents with a spirited performance as the tie ended 2-2.

With both sides in their tried and tested 4-4-2 formation, the hosts drew first blood with a stunning lead through Turkish based wide man Tonia Tisdell. The left foot craft man latched onto a flick-pass from playmaker Isaac Zola Pupo who had made jinks into the Nigerian box to tap the ball beyond the reach of a lackluster Vincent Enyeama as early as the 5th minute to put the Lone Star noses in front.

Captain Joseph Yobo would then rally his men to respond as the Lone Star lifted them with the early goal. In a back four that comprised Juwon Oshaniwa and Godfrey Itama Oboabona from local clubs Sharks and SunShine Stars respectively and Yobo’s defensive partner,Azubike Emmanuel Egwuekwe of local club Warri Wolves, the Super Eagles had a midfield quartet of Italian club FC Gubbio midfielder Nwanko Obiora in the balanced role, Real Betis Nosakharee Igiebor behind the front two of Villareal’s loaned striker at Granada CF, Ukwechukwu Uche and Spartak Moscow’s Emmanuel Eminike, with the wide men being new Chelsea signing Victor Moses and local club Enugu Rangers Christainus Ejike Uzoenyi.

The Super Eagles tried to pass the ball in the midfield, but a bumpy pitch and a fearsome Lone Star outfit prevented their passing games as full back George Gebro made a rugged challenge on Moses who would spend some time on the surface. Gebro had as defensive partners, the Cypriot based Solomon Grimes of Nea Salamina the central defensive duo of Omega Roberts and Jimmy Dixon of Serbian club FK Smederevo and Swedish side BK Hacken respectively.

In the holding role was US Monasaart of France Alseny Keita, Isaac Pupo of local club LPRC Oilers as the playmaker and Sekou Jabateh Oliseh of CSKA Moscow and Turkish side Saliufaspor’s Tonia Tisdell, while the front two included the Indonesian based Zah Rahan Krangar and Edward Junior Wilson of Persipura and Semen Padang respectively.

The visitors tried to pick the pockets of the host defense who stood gallantly to maintain their lead, but as the game progressed, the Nigerians managed to get behind the Liberia national team defense from the left channel as a cross from Ejike Uzoenyi was parried by a reliable goalkeeper Sherman only for a lurking and unmarked Igiebor to slot the ball in an unguarded net to restore parity for the two times African champions in the 16th minute.

This made the Super Eagles to start making-inroads as they were ominous in getting the second goal. Then, four minutes later, a suicidal back pass from Sekou Oliseh was received by the nimble footed Moses whose weaving runs cum mesmerizing dribbles got the better of Omega Roberts and George Gebro with the former fouling him with the back of the leg and the latter falling over him for a penalty awarded by controversial Malian referee Komon Coulibaly. Uche then placed the converted penalty in the roof which like the first goal went through the net as the SKD became silent.

After the goal, the Lone Star began to chase the game to prevent the Nigerians from continuing their foothold status as Tonia Tisdell, Zah Krangar and Isaac Pupo became lively while Gebro remained solid. Tisdell’s sublime dribbles had won his side a host of free kicks from promising positions, but the Nigerian defense stood tall. The Lone Star was vulnerable from wide areas as the duo of Solomon Grimes and George Gebro had no cover since the pair of Oliseh and Tisdell did not have the recovery runs in tracking back to outnumber the opposition. An injured and rather floppy Omega Roberts who was very erratic in defense had to make way for a hungry Teah Dennis, Jr. as the first half went to bed.

In the second period, the Lone Star raised their game and Jabateh with a changed boot that had a poor first half began showed some promise.

But, it was a surprise that Nigeria’s Coach keshi abandoned his side wing play which was useful to them in the first half as he opted to attack from the middle which made life difficult for his side as the Lone Star began to take the game to them.

The Lone Star then started to create chances and though Uche nearly scored from a screamer which was disposition by Sherman, the Lone Star probed and probed as they got the equalizer through Sekou Oliseh who effectively executed a Zah Krangar’s cleverly measured cross to beat a match rusty Eyenma as the score board read 2-2. In the 66th minute. Moses would then make way for a quick Ahmed Musa of CSKA Moscow and a rather tired Yobo had to make way for Scottish side Celtic Efe Ambrose who recently vowed to stop the imperious Lionel Messi when his side meets the Blaugarna later on in the champions’ league group stage.

The Lone Star had penalty appeals when substitute Eddie Boikai Foday, a more mobile player who had come on for an immobile Edward Junior Wilson was upended and Jimmy Dixon headed home a free kick that was judged for offside. But Zah could count himself unlucky when he earlier headed a ball that beat Enyeama but landed on the frame and then back to the goalkeeper, the diminutive player also had his effort go through the side netting which send the SKD in frenzy as they thought it was a goal.

Tisdell also made way for a somewhat unimpressive James Soto Roberts. But, it was the Super Eagles that should have scored in the dying minute when Jimmy Dixon made a howler in gifting a header to the predator Uche whose one-two with Musa saw him close to the Lone Star goal line, but he did not have much venom in his tap as a brave Shermen went under the boot of the former Getafe man to make the much needed intervention as the match ended 2-2.

The second leg is on October 13 in Nigeria as they take home a crucial two away goal.

In truth, the Lone Star played a very determine and promising game as they surprised the Nigerians by giving them a run for their money. There were some bread and butter calls from the Malian referee though, but his major calls were good as Jimmy Dixon was truly offside for his headed goal and Zah’s effort hit the side netting and then landed in the goal as the nets all had holes on them, a surprise as the match officials should have spotted that before kickoff for it to be changed, but to play with such net caused problems from the players and even the spectators angle.

Tactically, the Lone Star Coach disrespected the Super Eagles. Playing with just one holding midfielder in Alseny keita meant the Nigerians were seemingly gifted as they were always going to score. In the 4-4-2 formation, the Lone Star had two wide men in Sekou Oliseh and Tonia Tisdell who were not the harder workers in tracking back. Thus, George Gebro and Solomon Grimes always had to deal with a one v one situation and at times 2v 1 when one of the strikers went wide or even the full backs venture forward. Thus, a formation with two holding players like in a 4-2-3-1 formation which is regarded as the most flexible formation or just any formation with a double pivot or two holding midfielders would have caused the Nigerians defeat.

In this, there would have been not much need for the two wide men to track back as the two holding players would have given them and the back four much protection as they would have squeezed the wings where the Nigerians were menacing. Besides, man of the match Isaac Pupo was a joy to watch especially providing the telling balls in wide areas. But, in truth some of his passes had too much spin that went into the air in the middle of the opponents defense which made the taller Nigerian defenders dealt with them easily. He should have provided more through balls on the floor for the skillful strikers to take on Yob who is no where near his best, and Keshi must now start finding his replacement, so too is goalkeeper Vincent who was a flop as he did not play for the entire season at Lille in France and is now back in Israel on loan with Meccabi Televiv.

Jimmy Dixon did not have an all bad game though, but his international playing days seem to be numbered as he struggled with the pace and aggression of Uche and Eminike and was beaten on a host of occasion. Uche should have even wrapped up the game as he had two clear cut chances which a player of his caliber should have buried. The introduction of Teah Dennis, Jr. for a dreadful Omega Roberts who was in fact a wrong pair with Jimmy since both players are not the rugged style defenders, once more proves while there was no need to send for 14 professionals when in fact there are tried and tested locals who can do the work. So, a player like Ansu Toure came from Denmark only to warm the bench and Martin Kendue, a local lad who is useful as a holding midfielder was overlooked.

Also, Keshi with his poor tactic in abandoning the wing play where his side was lethal for launching attack from the middle proved his undoing as the hosts got back into the melee.

With a 2-2 away draw, the Super Eagles are now firm favorites and with the Lone Star being poor travelers as they have drawn just one game in their last nineteen competitive away fixtures, only the most unrealistic of pundits will insinuate that Liberia will go through. Kudos must go to Kaetu Smith and the entire technical crew as they put up a very promising show to the surprise of many. While there were some problems, they drilled the team in a way that they made life uneasy for the star saturated Nigerians. The trio of Isaac Zola Pupo, Tonia Tisdell and Zah Rahan Krangar were the three most outstanding performers of the Lone Star.

Finally, the Super Eagles are certainly living in the past with Keshi yet to win an away match since taking over Nigeria as he has drawn with Malawi, Rwanda and of late Liberia. He and his charges will have to raise their game, and seeing the match against the Lone Star it was no surprise they did not make it at the last Afcon where they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Guinea, after a 0-1 loss in the corresponding fixture in Conakry.