Monrovia – Liberia attacker Edwardline Decontee Jackson scored a first half goal to give defending Liberia champions Determine Girls a 1-0 victory over Shaita Angels at the Tusa field in the Upper Women’s League of the Liberia Football Association.
By: Christopher C Walker [email protected]
Jackson, who joined the Liberian champions at the beginning of the league, scored a dramatic first half goal in the battle of the giants as Determine Girls claimed a 1-0 victory over Shaita Angels in the last match of first phase of 2024/25.
The match, considered as the battle of the giants, started with entertaining displays from both teams.
Before the start of the match, Angels were behind Determine Girls by four points and went into the match to reduce the lead of the champions.
Determined Girls, who have won the league three times in a row, started the match like a moving train and pressurized Shaita Angels for the match opener.
Shaita Angels fought to get the match opening goal but Miatta Morris was not at her best to get behind Determine Girls defense.
With lots of cheering in the stadium, Determine Girls pulled the first blood from the leg of their new signing Decontee Jackson after her side pushed the flying Angels in their own half.
Morris had earlier squandered the Angels’ best chance.
The champions had a lion share of the position in the first half but could only show a goal for it.
Back from the break, Shaita Angels took full control of the match, restricting Determine Girls to play on a counter attack, which did not result in a goal.
Lucy Kekeh and Miata Morris were constant threats to the defense of Determine Girls, but they stood their ground to deny Shaita Angels.
With the entire second half played in the halve of the champions, Shaita Angels failed to get the equalizer, ending the match 1-0.
After the match, Shaita Angels coach Monroe Winn said his team’s defeat was the result of technical errors from the match official.
According to the Shaita Angels coach, the referee mismanaged the game by booking his players unnecessary while Determine Girls were not.
“We keep on the fight to win the league because the league is still on and we also have the Orange Cup.”
“I think today the best team lost. We played to win but we were not fortunate to win and that’s football,” Winn said.
For his part, Robert Lartey, head coach of Determine Girls, said he’s excited to create a seven-point lead at the end of the first phase of the league.
He said despite the score line, he and his team are happy to collect all three points, most importantly from a team that is a title contender.
“During the second half we lost our composure and if you look at the game they were putting more pressure on our team but it is something you have to expect because they were down” Lartey said.
