Gambia hold Angola to draw in Benguela

Gambia’s home-based Scorpions on Saturday 15 December 2012 held Angola’s Palancas Negras to a one-all deadlock.

Despite gaining luxury of possession, Angola could only score from a spot kick when defender Foday Saidy parried an ensuing goal with bare hands.

Amandio Felipe Dacosta converted the kick to lead putting the home side ahead at 13mins into the play.

The GPA shorter was eventually sent off for what the referee adjudged to be deliberate.

The Gambia deficit numerically during the play with a man and time for Mancini and Bonu to effect interchanges.

Defender Antou Badjan was brought in to strengthen the back while Modou Jallow moved to replace Modou Lamin Sawo in the upright centre just a little behind Hamza Barry.

Angola’s Bartolemou, who trades his football in Brazil, continued to provide the lovely assists for dreadlocks Adriano Nicolaus who mesmerised the Abdou Jammeh defence but only Emmanuel Gomez could dispossess him a little.

Adriano spoiled for the second time two clear scoring chances one with a coiling header that aroused spectator applause.

As the clock ticked faster, the Palancas Negras continued to pose threats at Scorpions defence a lose effort for T-Boy when he sluggishly placed the ball to his opponent but Alhagie Jobe’s finger tip saved it and a corner lessened the Scorpions worries for an added goal.

The Gambia resumed business with substitutions in Christopher Allen to replace Toldo who complained of neck stiff while nimble footed Dawda Sisoho could only replace Ousman Sillah, whose performance on the night was only a nightmare.

Midfielder Hamza Barry ran through from the centre to upfront but for many a time. The lad was being easily stopped and lazily falling to the ground.

Quarter way into the second period, The Gambia found its true colours and time now for another GPA player Saloum Faal to equal the scoring when Christopher Allen sent a wider shot that drops in between two Angolan defenders and Saloum ran athletically to slot at the bottom left corner leaving goalkeeper Luis Mamona Joao desperate..

Angola being dedicated at the middle sealed Gambia’s Modou Jallow and tired legs Hamza Barry and resort to pushing harder for a win before the show up of time added on. However, maverick Demba Sanyang and Bakau United’s Amat Njie came in to spoil what could have been a whole night party for the Palancas Negras.

Nonetheless, as the roaring mounts from the stands, Angola nearly caused an upset when new entrant Manuel Afonso, alias Ary, released a wicked coiler but Gambia’s man between the sticks parried it and denied the home fans broad smiles.

The match finally ended one-all. Scorpions Head Coach Luciano Mancini at a post-match interview said the local team needs commendation as they have put up a brave fight against Angola.

He said the match was very important for both countries and that he was happy about the performance of the young lads.

Quizzed about the hand ball that resulted in the sending-off  of his defender Foday Saidy and eventual penalty shot, the Italian born coach said ‘It’s part of football’.