CAF CL: LPRC Oilers 3-0 ASKO De Kara

Goals from Terry Sackor, Irvine Gbotoe, and James Rechardson saw Orange First Division League Champions LPRC Oilers defeat Togolese champions, ASKO De Kara, 3-0 in the preliminaries of the CAF Champions League at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium on Sunday.

The win was a huge boost for coach Cooper Sannah as his side secured an advantage ahead of the return-leg in Togo.

It wasn’t a good start for the Oilers after an early substitution had to be made due to forward William Freemen’s injury sustained in the 10^th minute and had to be stretched off the pitch and replaced by Kelvin Konuwa. Oilers, however, broke the deadlock 23 minutes on the clock, courtesy of striker Sackor’s header from a corner that had a flick on defender Ben Benaiah’s head at the near post before Sackor headed in the goal completely unmarked at the back post.

The visitors had control over possession but struggled to perfectly convert their chances, thanks to goalkeeper Eshaka Jalloh who had a better composure to deny the visitors and kept a clean sheet. With a one-goal lead after the halftime break, Oilers made it 2-0 in the 70^th minute through Alvin Gboto, after he was beautifully set up from outside the area by James Konuwa before curling in his right-foot strike.

A minute later, Richardson finally closed the book to end the Oilers’ goals tally when he met an airball at the back of the post at the right time to head home the Oilers’ third goal of the match. Coach Sannah expressed excitement over his team’s victory but said they are not complacent as they have the return leg ahead.  

This is the Oilers’ second consecutive appearance that they have secured an advantage in the first-leg. In the previous appearance in the competition, the oil boys defeated Senegalese champions Generation Foot 1-0 at home, but lost 3-0 away in Senegal.

Meanwhile, ASKO’s head coach, Jean Dosseh, attributed his team’s defeat to lack of communication but remains hopeful that his team can overturn the result in the return leg at home. The return leg is slated for Sunday, September 19, in Togo.

CAF CC: Binga FC 3-0 Monrovia Club Breweries

In related news, Liberia’s representatives to the CAF Confederation Cup, Monrovia Club Breweries, suffered a shocking 3-0 defeat at the hand of Malian second division side Binga FC on Saturday at the Modibo Keita Sports Stadium in Bamako, Mali.  Binga will travel to Monrovia for the return leg scheduled for Sunday, September 19, at the ATS.