by FSL News | 18 Sep, 2016 | Players Abroad News
Sierra Leone striker Kei Kamara (pictured) scored his first goal and the third-fastest in Major League Soccer club history for the New England Revolution since returning from international duty .
Kei Kamara got the Revs off to a quick start, scoring on a header just 24 seconds into the match as the Revs defeated the Montreal Impact, 3-1 at Stade Saputo on Saturday evening.
The Sierra Leone-born has now recorded 84 career goals, trailing only LA’s Landon Donovan (144), San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski (133), and FC Dallas’s Carlos Ruiz (88) for the most goals among active MLS players.
Chelsea’s legend Ivorian striker Didier Drogba shortly after the break converted from the penalty spot to reduce the deficit in the 51′.
However, Kelyn Jaynes Rowe, 24, double for the away team completed their third consecutive victory in this campaign.
It was Kei Kamara who equalised midway through the second half against Ivory Coast in the final match of 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The Revs next MLS tie is on Sunday, Sept. 25 when the club travels to Columbus to take on Kamara’s former side Crew SC at MAPFRE Stadium for the third and final meeting between the two sides this season.
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by FSL News | 18 Sep, 2016 | African News
Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a 2-1 defeat to Zesco United in the first leg of their CAF Champions League semi-final on Saturday.
The game got off to a good start, with both sides showing their attacking intent in the opening minutes.
The home side was ahead in the opening 10 minutes into the second half, as Jackson Mwanza rose above Wayne Arendse to send a glancing header into the far corner.
Jackson Mwanza’s second goal was enough to give the Zambian champions an edge over the South African soccer club based in Pretoria.
All three goals came in the second half Sundowns midfielder Khama Billiat snatching Sundowns insurance ahead of the return leg decider in Pretoria.
The Zambian side is in pole position towards reaching their debut 2016 CAF Champions League final.
The return leg is slated for September 24, with a final against Egyptian side Zamalek likely on the cards after they demolished Wydad Casablanca 4-0 in the first leg of the other last-four clash.
Friday, 16 September
Zamalek 4 -0 WAC Casablanca
Saturday, 17 September
Zesco United 2 – 1 Mamelodi Sundowns
Second Leg: Saturday, 24 September
Mamelodi Sundowns v ZESCO United
WAC Casablanca v Zamalek
Here’s how they lined up:
Zesco: Silwimba, Banh, Owino Odhiambo, Oluwafemi, Mwelwa, Mtonga, Chaila, Ching’andu, Mwanza, Were.
Sundowns: Onyango, S.Zwane, Arendse, Nthethe, Langerman, Kekana, Mabunda, Tau, T. Zwane, Dolly, Billiat.
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by FSL News | 16 Sep, 2016 | Players Abroad News
Sierra Leone-born midfielder Ibrahim Kallay (Pictured) scored the winner on Wednesday to help his side win the Swedish DM Cup 2016 at the LF Arena.
The 23-year-old admits his delights after scoring against his former club IFK Lulea to secured a 2-0 victory.
After winning this year’s DM Cup Pitea IF have qualified for next year’s Swedish Cup, an opportunity to face Swedish top flight clubs.
Kallay, who started his career as a youngster with Kamboi Eagles and, after spells with Umea and IFK Lulea, signed for Piteå in 2016, has made fifteen appearances for the Swedish Div One Norra side scoring twice.
“It’s was a great game, happy for the team and I’m delighted to score the winner,” he told this medium after collecting his winners’ medal.
“I knew that the fans wanted us to win the trophy, I did my best to help the team, as always is very difficult playing against a former club (IFK Lulea), but was very happy to score the winning goal,” Kallay repeated.
Kallay in recent months has been left out of the Sierra Leone men’s soccer team, his last played for Leone Stars during the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
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by FSL News | 16 Sep, 2016 | Players Abroad News
Spanish’s Villarreal beat Swiss’s second-tier side FC Zurich 2-1 on Thursday in the first leg Europa League Group Stage (Group L) tie at the Estadio El Madrigal Stadium.
Sierra Leone skipper Umaru Bangura celebrates his side’s opener with teammates.
Dos Santos set up Pato for Villarreal’s opener in the 28′ minutes to cancelled out Armando Sadiku’s 2′ minutes goal for the visitors.
Extraordinary start for the visitors, with the first meaningful attack of the game in the second minutes of the game, Sadiku’s shot from outside the area sneaks inside Fernandez’s left-hand post.
The host takes advantage of their South American combination late on as Pato sets up Dos Santos for their second, a flip into the box inviting his team-mate to score from a tight angle.
Bangura, who was making only his second appearance since joining the Swiss side (FC Zurich) played the whole 90 minutes and was impressive.
Bangura a brilliant reader of the game, his tackles are firm – accounted for 22 accurate passes from a total of 27 at the Estadio El Madrigal.
He signed for the Swiss side on August 4, 2016, on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
FC Zurich next group stage match will be played on the 29 September at the Letzigrund Stadium hosting group leaders Turkish top flight side Osmanlispor.
Elsewhere, Osmanlispor tops Group L after their impressive 2-0 thrashing over Romanian side FC Steaua București.
Villarreal: Andres Fernandez; Rukavina, Alvaro, Victor Ruiz, Jose Angel; Dos Santos (71 Castillejo), N’Diaye, Bruno Soriano Cheryshev (80.Soriano); Borre (Sansone 67.) Pato
Zürich: Vanins; Brunner, Nef, Bangura, Voser ; Kecojevic, Sarr (57. Yapi), Kukeli, Winter (65. Schönbächler); Rodriguez (84. Cavusevic); Sadiku
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by FSL News | 15 Sep, 2016 | International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
After a positive result away to Ivory Coast in Bouake in their final 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifier, Sellas Tetteh’s side have slid back out of the world’s top 90 again following their exit from the Gabon 2017 continental big stage next year.
The Leone Stars of Sierra Leone dropped five places in the latest FIFA ranking released on Thursday, September 15 to become the 93rd placed team globally.
This sees the Leone Stars now ranked 25th in the continent – Africa.
Others on the continental stage, the Black Stars dropped from 2nd to 5th, with Cote d’Ivoire (1st and 34 overall), (Algeria 2nd & 35), Senegal 3rd & 39) and Tunisia (42) and Ghana 43rd making up the top five in Africa.
DR Congo (51), Egypt (53), Congo (54), Mali (55), and Morocco (58) complete the top ten in that order.
The World’s top 10 (as of September 15, 2016)
1 Argentina, 2 Belgium, 3 Germany, 4 Colombia, 4 Brazil, 6 Chile, 7 Portugal, 8 France, 9 Uruguay, 10 Wales
The next edition of the ranking will be released on October 20.
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -