The second phase of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) National First Division League kicked off with a stunning upset as Mighty Barrolle handed league leaders Fassell Football Club their first defeat of the season.
Dubbed the “Kanyan Pepper Boys,” Mighty Barrolle has been battling relegation throughout the season. However, they delivered a New Year’s gift to their fans on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at the Doris Williams Sports Pitch in Buchanan.
The team emerged victorious in a seven-goal thriller, edging Fassell FC 4-3 in a dramatic encounter.
The match was a stage of resilience and determination, with Barrolle’s Roland Kamei stealing the spotlight.
The loanee standing uprightly in the forward of Barrolle netted all four goals for his side, igniting hope for a club desperate to escape the relegation zone.
The first half saw Kamei scored twice to give Barrolle the lead, but Fassell managed to pull one back, setting the halftime score at 2-1.
Despite their shaky start, Fassell, also known as the “Soccer Missionaries,” mounted consistent pressure in the second half on their match day host.
Fassell equalized twice in the second half, but Kamei responded each time with clinical finishing.
His fourth goal in the final quarter of the match sealed the victory for Barrolle, making him the highest scorer of the week and refreshing the team’s campaign.
Fassell FC’s defeat ended their unbeaten run in the league. After undergoing a rigorous rebranding process and returning to the topflight after a five-year break due to some administrative impasses, Fassell had played their first 13 matches without defeat, winning nine and drawing four.
The Soccer Missionaries are leading all aspects of the national league currently including a total of 31 points accumulated, 30 goals scored and with a super performance of a defensive backline that has conceded 10 goals recorded as the least number of goals conceded by a club in the ongoing campaign.
Despite the loss, Fassell remains atop the league table, but the defeat has tightened the gap between them and second-placed Discoveries Sports Academy.
The victory offers a glimmer of hope for Mighty Barrolle, who remains at the bottom of the standings.
The team’s poor first-phase performance had left them in danger of relegation, but Sunday’s spirited display could mark a turning point in their campaign.
With less than half of the league remaining to be played in the coming days, it is now at a point of justification for all clubs to show their strength as a way of securing a slot in the league’s next season.
As it stands, the top three spots of the league table is being occupied by FC Fassell, Discoveries Sports Academy and Bea Mountain Football Club after opening round of the second phase. Discoveries is four points behind the table leader while three points ahead of Bea Mountain that is in the third place position.
From the bottom end of the league table, Mighty Barrolle with 11 points, Invincible Eleven with 12 points and debutant Shaita Football Club 13 points are all under threat to beef up performance in the remaining 12 matches to end the season.
