by FSL News | 26 Mar, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Allsvenskan newcomers AFC Eskilstuna wrapped up their 2017/2018 preparations with a big away win at the home of Swedish Champions Malmo FF.
The Eskilstuna-based club defeated Malmo 1-0 courtesy of a Mohamed Buya Turay (pictured) stunning solo goal.
The Sierra Leone-born was clinical when he ran in-depth and shot from a good distance to give AFC the winner with the only goal of the day at the Swedbank Stadium on Thursday just before the break.
AFC Eskilstuna started pre-season with a draw against IF Elfsborg (1-1) in Spain and to finished it up a few months later with a win away to Malmö FF.
Turay, 22, in December 2016 signed a new deal, keeping him at AFC Eskilstuna until 2019.
“It’s obviously going to be a new challenge for me and the team, but we are all looking forward to getting started,” Buya told footballsierraleone.net ahead of the new campaign a few months ago.
AFC Eskilstuna will kick off their 2017-2018 campaign with a visit to GIF Sundsvall on 2 April 2017.
Match Facts:
Malmo FF – Eskilstuna AFC 0-1 (0-1)
0-1 (45) Mohamed Turay Buya
Attendance: 728, Swedbank Stadium
By Alie Bittar @football_sierra @bittar32
by FSL News | 26 Mar, 2017 | Players Abroad News
New England Revolution for the first time this season registered a victory with a dramatic 5-2 success over Minnesota United FC at the Gillette Stadium on Saturday.
Sierra Leone international Kei Kamara opened his 2017 account in the 21st minute with his eight goals as a Revolution player and it was his 87th career MLS goal, second among active players.
Juan Agudelo scored two goals to lead the New England Revolution in a 5-2 rout of Minnesota United FC.
Lee Nguyen and Chris Tierney also scored for Revs who has won its last five home matches dating to last season.
Minnesota’s Collen Warner and Brent Kallman scored for the struggling visitors.
New England visits the Portland Timbers next Sunday.
By Alie Bittar @football_sierra @bittar32
by FSL News | 24 Mar, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Two defeats in a row for Kei Kamara’s New England Revolution in their opening Major League Soccer campaign was not the kind of start the Sierra Leone striker was anticipating.
The Revs will play for the first time this season at home looking for a home comfort and Kamara hopes a first win of the season on Saturday against Minnesota United at the Gillette Stadium can inspire his team to go on a winning run.
Kamara has been speaking ahead of Minnesota United home game, he told club’s website: “We’ve been really excited to play our first game at home. I think (almost) everyone in the league has played in their home stadium, and it helps. We’re looking forward to that.”
Two opening defeats to Colorado and Dallas have left the Revs searching desperately for that all-important victory to kick-start their season.
“We play a lot better at home, and we want to see that,” said Kamara’s teammate Diego Fagundez. “All of us are excited to be home for the first time, and to show the fans that these two away games were tough, that we’re ready to play, and we’re going to show them a result.”
“There were moments in both games in Colorado and in Dallas that are positives, but we can be better,” said head coach Jay Heaps. “I think we all know that, and Saturday’s another chance to be better.”
Passionate Kamara added: “The only acceptable result on Saturday is a victory, and while that begins with being solid at the back, it will also require the Revs to jumpstart their attack.”
@football_sierra
by FSL News | 23 Mar, 2017 | Players Abroad News
On Tuesday, a yellow-card foul turned into a one-game suspension for the FC Dallas defender.
The MLS disciplinary committee did not look favourably on Maynor Figueroa’s second-half takedown of Kei Kamara during Saturday’s (March 18th) Revolution’s 2-1 away defeat to FC Dallas.
On Tuesday, the committee handed Figueroa a one-match suspension for endangering the safety of his opponent.
Although the Sierra Leone striker is not expected to miss any time while recovering from the challenge.
However, the Honduran defender will not feature for the Toros on April 8, when his team hosts Minnesota United.
Figueroa’s challenge occurred from an awkward angle as Kamara took a touch near midfield.
The tackle cleaned out the Revolution forward, who spent several minutes on the ground before rising to his feet and finishing the match.
Referee Allan Kelly disciplined Figueroa with a yellow card. Ultimately, the Disciplinary Committee felt that punishment wasn’t enough.
Meanwhile, Kamara’s Rev have lost their opening two MLS away games. They will enter the weekend still in search of their first points.
by Nick Hemming @NickMHemming
@football_sierra
by FSL News | 19 Mar, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Sierra Leone striker Alhaji Kamara has joined US Soccer League side Richmond Kickers on a season-long loan from DC United.
“The Richmond Kickers are pleased to receive five players on loan from the club’s official Major League Soccer affiliate, D.C. United. Defender Chris Durkin, forward Alhaji Kamara, goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky, midfielder Chris Odoi-Atsem and midfielder Maxim Tissot are slated to appear in Richmond throughout the 2017 season, pending USL, MLS and U.S. Soccer approval,” the club stated on their official website.
The former Norrköping forward scored the fastest goal on his MLS debut in 33 seconds against Sporting Kansas City for DC United, after a congenital heart condition derailed his European career.
Kamara was cleared to resume his career after further testing from US-based doctors, the initial medical test confirmed he was suffering from congenital heart disease, a deviation of the coronary arteries.
The 5 ft 11-inch striker, who will be 23-year-old in April made eight appearances – starting twice for DC United last Major League season.
He was clinical when playing for Norrköping in the Swedish Allsvenskan scoring 21 goals in 48 games in all competitions.
In 2015, he was loaned to Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta’zim F.C. but was recalled to IFK Norrköping in July 2016, where he scored seven goals in thirteen appearances to help the Swedish side win the league.
Capped four times for Sierra Leone, he began his career with local club FC Kallon, before signing on loan with Swedish first division side Djurgårdens IF in 2012 and eventually signing with IFK Norrköping in 2014.
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by FSL News | 19 Mar, 2017 | Players Abroad News
Last year’s Cup winners, BK Häcken lost 3-1 on Saturday at their Bravida Arena to Östersunds FK in the Swedish Cup Semi-finals.
Alhassan ‘Crespo’ Kamara scored BK Häcken’s only goal with his head and his fifth in this year’s cup competition but was not enough to take his side’s to the 2017 Swedish Cup final.
Häcken were two down in the opening half hour – goals from Tom Pettersson and Saman Ghoddos for the visiting team Östersunds FK in the 6th and 30th minutes respectively before Sierra Leone striker Kamara pulled one back in the 32′ minutes at their Bravida Arena.
Saman Ghoddos scored his second and Östersunds third in the 87th minutes to wrapped up the victory and helped his side to their first ever cup final.
In the second half, BK Häcken took over the game at times. But does not create as many chances and they were unable to be clinical in front of goal when Joel Andersson lifting the ball to an onrushing Paulinho but only saved on the goal line!
Hacken, who won the Cup last year was often got stuck in a tight defensive game.
Hacken’s technician Mikael Stahre: “Obviously disappointing to lose, but we played against a good team. 70 percent of football matches are won by the team that scores the first goal. We conceded an after six minutes. It put a stamp on the game.”
Östersunds faces the winner between IFK Norrköping and Brommapojkarna, who play the other semi-final on Sunday.
Match Facts: Starting Elevens
Hacken: Abrahamsson – Andersson, Lindgren, Wahlstrom (Maholli, 66 ‘), Arkivuo (Egbuchulam, 85’) – Friberg, Faltsetas (Paulinho, 38 ‘), Abubakari – Farnerud, Kamara Mohammed
Ostersund: Keita – Mensiro, Bergqvist (Somi, 46 ‘), Pettersson, Widgren -Sema (Gero, 85’), Nouri, Bachirou, Bertilsson (Edwards, 50 ‘) – Ghoddos, Aeish
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