Liberty ditch Inter Allies

A thunderous header by Simon Zibo secured a second consecuitive home victory for Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals as they beat International Allies 2-1 on Match Day Three of the special competition played at the Carl Reindorf Park yesterday.

Goals by striker Elvis Kyei Baffour and captain of the side, Zibo ensured that Liberty maintained their hundred per cent home record so far in the special competition following their 4-0 thrashing of Ebusua Dwarfs last week.

Inter Allies came into the game with full force, enjoying a good spell of possession in the early minutes but could not create any goal scoring chances, and once Coach Reginald Asante’s Liberty side took over, they could not be restrained.

A first attack by Liberty in the 12th minute broke the deadkock for the hosts after a brilliant cut-back on the right side of attack by Emmanuel Addo found Elvis Kyei Baffour in the box. The latter made no mistake in putting his side ahead.

Allies continued to dominate possesion after going down and came close to equalising after striker Effiong Nsungusi Junior’s overhead kick in the 32nd minute forced goalkeeper Fatao Alhassaan of Liberty into a one-handed save to deny the Nigerian International and the story did not change till the end of the first half.

The second half began with substitutions for the visitors as Coach Rashidi Iddi brought on Roland Addi for Paul Abanga and Alex Aso for Samuel Armah in the 52nd minute.

Ampadu Michael of Liberty received the first booking of the game in the 56th minute for a bad challenge on Hamzah Nassira to put the brakes on a counter-attack by Inter Allies.

Just as Liberty were building some momentum after the recess and dominating possession for a while, they conceded in the 68th minute when a long pass found striker Effiong who went all alone to find the equaliser for the visitors and also increase his goal scoring record in the competition to two goals from two games.

Unfortunately for the Tema-based side, their joy was cut short after Liberty responded immediately in the 70th minute through a header by Liberty’s captain who powerfully soared above everyone else in the box to nod home a well-taken corner kick to restore the lead for coach Asante’s side.

Inter kept probing to find an equaliser but their efforts were calmly dealt with by the Liberty professionals defence.