Shooting Stars beaten at home

By Mohamed Fajah Barrie in Freetown

The Darling Scorpions of The Gambia are now one step closer to eliminate Shooting Stars in the 2017 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as they have won the first round first leg match 2-0 away in Makeni on Saturday.

Two second half goals including a deflected kick gave the Darling Scorpions the victory in a match largely dominated by them.

Bun Sanneb got the opening goal in the 61st minute as he finished off from the box a right wing cross that hit Shooting Stars defender Ibrahim Mansaray before entering into the net.

The second goal came 14 minutes later when captain Ablie Jallow released a shot into the net from an angle outside the left of the box after a defensive blunder.

The Shooting Stars coach Charlie Wright has attributed their loss to lack of many inexperienced players in his team.

But he has promised to beef up his squad to overturn the result in the second leg encounter in Banjul in three weeks time.

The head coach of the Darling Scorpions Umar Sise on his path said they won because they were well prepared and determined to get good result.

The is the second time The Gambia have beaten Sierra Leone away in Sierra Leonean soil in U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Darling Scorpions knocked out Sierra Leone 4-1 on aggregate in the 2011 qualifiers after winning both legs in Freetown and Banjul.

Shooting Stars Starting line-up:

1, Peter Sesay (GK), 19, Musa Kamara 5, Abdul Kamara 13, Abdulia Bai Kabia, 3, Ibrahim Mansaray, 4, Mohamed Musa Kallon, 7, Alpha Kamara, 6, Samuel Nongowah, 17, Ahmed Vandy, 10, Hassan Koroma 11, Gibrill S. Kamara

Coach: Charlie Wright

Darling Scorpions line-up:

1, Babucarr Ceesay (GK), 16, Hamidou Bojang, 15, Ebrima Sidibeh, 13, Lamin Sanko, 5, Mbye Faye, 12, Adama Jarju, 10, Paomar Babou, 11, Ebrima Jobe, 4, Bun Sanneb, 3, Ablie Jallow (C)

Coach: Omar Sise

Match officials:

Referee : Issa Sy (Senegal)

AR1: Nouha Bangoura(Senegal)

AR2: Amadou Ngom(Senegal)

RR: Alioune Sow Sandigui (Senegal)

Match Commissioner : Cheikh Oumar Soumbounou (Mali)

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