A difficult game ends in delight for Gunjur league champions Red Start FC who struggled to keep their title and ultimately defeated Ecomog F.C 4 – 3 on penalties to win the Gunjur super cup following a stalemate goalless draw in regulation time.
Ecomog mostly have themselves to blame for not turning their dominance into goals after controlling and dictating the tempo throughout the exciting encounter.
The Reds were largely outclassed by a notably superior opponent. Red Star who repeatedly gave the ball away under pressure, were underwhelming and besides a brief rally and moment of genius at the start of the second half – uncharacteristically pedestrian and toothless for most part of the game.
Without the heroic performance of custodian Lamin Jatta in between the frame, Red Star could have been five goals behind at halftime.
The crowd included Red Star supporters who were visibly nervous and the travelling Ecomog fans from Siffoe village who roared wildly after several missed chances, witnessed a highly entertaining final marked by the slick and incisive movements of Ecomog and the resilient defending of Red Star.
Red Star introduced several fresh legs to the game during the second half to try and balance the tempo, but they will still face threats. Ecomog’s Amadou Demba had a long-range effort hit the crossbar and bounced out as Ecomog appealed for a goal, but the referee insisted that it did not cross the line.
Further chances came and went for both sides especially Ecomog, but Red Star managed to have the game their way as they held on to resiliently maintain the deadlock, which took the game into penalties.
Ecomogs two substitutes Moses Prierra and Kebba Drammeh, both introduced for the penalty shootout missed their shots and Red Star youngster Lamin Jammeh scored the winning spot kick in his debut to earned the Red stars their 15th title in the Gunjur “Nawettan” tournament.
Red Stars were handed the winner’s trophy and a cash prize of fifteen thousand dalasi, while the travelling Ecomog side went back to Siffoe with a consolation of ten thousand dalasi.
