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Soccer News of Monday, 3 February 2003

Source: gna

Liberian club Shock Hearts

Bendu F/C, Liberian representative in this year's CAF Cup competition, survived a frenetic last-gasp siege by an under-strength Accra Hearts of Oak side registering a shock 2-1 victory over their Ghanaian counterparts.

The Liberians are on a West African tour to toughen themselves for the CAF competition while Hearts, used the match to unveil their new signings and to fine tune for this year's Champions League.

Massawudu Mumuni formerly of Koforidua-based Maxbees shot the Phobians into the lead in the 34th minute when he connected a re-bound shot after his colleague Ghani Nasiru's goal-bound kick had been pushed into play by goalkeeper Paul Mubah.

But even before his goal, Mumuni saw his fierce shot took a ricochet off the upright from close range after a beautiful one-two with Ghani.

The Liberians proved that at least it was not for nothing, though that they placed third at the end of their national league and within eight minutes, pulled even thanks to striker Patrick Nimely's long volley which caught goalkeeper Sammy Adjei flat-footed.

After the equaliser, the Liberians who hitherto had withdrawn to the defence appeared to have gained some confidence and occasionally threatened the Hearts goal area.

It was during one of such occasional surge that Abraham Karmo delivered a low grounder that again, caught goalkeeper Adjie off-guard in the 65th minute for the visitors second.

But Hearts fought back relentlessly to at least register a draw but the bravery and good timing of Rasta-haired goalkeeper Mubah denied the Phobians of the equaliser. In fact he was given a standing ovation by the partisan crowd when he dived to parry substitute Massawudu Yahaya's thunderbolt on the stroke of full time.