“Mo Sangare is booked for a foul in the first half, an early sign of the physical edge to the contest.”
“Martial Tia gives Mali the lead with a left-footed finish from the center of the box, assisted by Kamory Doumbia, breaking Liberia's resistance.”
Pivotal
Liberia
Mali
Outstanding performance
Mali•DefenderMali dominated from the outset, racking up 63% possession and doubling Liberia's shot count, but their attacking superiority took until the 79th minute to yield a breakthrough. Martial Tia finally broke the deadlock with a well-taken left-footed finish after Kamory Doumbia's assist, capping a spell of sustained second-half pressure that included a blocked effort from Dorgeles Nene just minutes earlier. Liberia, who managed just one shot on target all match, showed defensive resolve for long spells but were ultimately undone by Mali's superior passing accuracy (87% to 77%) and relentless territorial control. The result keeps Mali's qualifying campaign on track while leaving Liberia to reflect on a night where they were second best for long periods but stayed competitive until the late strike settled it.
How entertaining was this match?
Mali is awarded a corner after Sampson Dweh concedes.
Substitution for Mali: Modibo Sagnan comes on for Lassine Sinayoko.
Attempt missed. Lassine Sinayoko from Mali has a right-footed shot from the left side of the box that goes wide to the left. He was assisted by Gaoussou Diarra.
Sebastain Teclar from Liberia wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul committed by Hamari Traoré of Mali.
Offside called against Liberia. Peter Wilson is caught offside.
Oscar Dorley from Liberia wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Mamadou Sangaré of Mali.
Substitution for Mali: Gaoussou Diarra comes on for Dorgeles Nene.
Substitution for Liberia: Sebastain Teclar comes on for Franklin Nyenetue.
Substitution for Liberia: Divine Teah comes on for Nohan Kenneh.
Substitution for Mali: Lassana Coulibaly comes on for Kamory Doumbia.
Substitution for Mali: Sékou Koïta comes on for Martial Tia.
Franklin Nyenetue from Liberia is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Foul committed by Hamari Traoré of Mali.
assist: Kamory Doumbia
Goal! Mali takes the lead 1-0 against Liberia as Martial Tia scores with a left-footed shot from the center of the box, assisted by Kamory Doumbia.
Corner awarded to Liberia after Nathan Gassama concedes.
Ousmane CamaraYellow CardOusmane Camara from Mali receives a yellow card for a foul.
Dorgeles Nene's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Lassine Sinayoko provided the assist.
Peter Wilson from Liberia wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul committed by Ousmane Camara of Mali.
Attempt blocked. Daouda Guindo from Mali has a left-footed shot from outside the box that is blocked.
Lassine Sinayoko's right-footed shot from outside the box for Mali is blocked.
Mali wins a corner after Emmanuel Fully concedes.
Foul committed by Philip Tarnue of Liberia.
Kamory Doumbia from Mali is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul committed by Peter Wilson of Liberia.
Ousmane Camara from Mali wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Ayouba Kosiah's left-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Sampson Dweh.
Attempt missed. Peter Wilson from Liberia has a right-footed shot from the right side of the box that is close but goes to the left. He was assisted by Salomon Tweh after a fast break.
Mo Sangare's header from the left side of the box is saved in the top center of the goal by Djigui Diarra. The attempt was assisted by Salomon Tweh.
Substitution for Liberia: Philip Tarnue comes on for Edward Ledlum due to an injury.
Substitution for Liberia: Peter Wilson comes on for Sylvanus Nimely.
Ayouba Kosiah from Liberia is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Foul committed by Ousmane Camara of Mali.
Sylvanus Nimely from Liberia is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul committed by Ousmane Camara from Mali.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Edward Ledlum from Liberia.
Mo Sangare of Liberia wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Lassine Sinayoko of Mali.
Hamari Traoré's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Kamory Doumbia.
Foul committed by Edward Ledlum of Liberia.
Dorgeles Nene from Mali wins a free kick on the left wing.
Ayouba Kosiah from Liberia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Nathan Gassama of Mali.
Dorgeles Nene of Mali is caught offside.
Mali is awarded a corner after Mo Sangare concedes.
Sampson Dweh's header from the center of the box is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Salomon Tweh.
Foul committed by Edward Ledlum of Liberia.
Dorgeles Nene from Mali is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
The second half begins with the score at 0-0 between Liberia and Mali.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 1 minute of added time.
The first half ends with Liberia and Mali tied at 0-0.
Salomon Tweh from Liberia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Hamari Traoré of Mali.
Foul committed by Sylvanus Nimely of Liberia.
Hamari Traoré from Mali is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Kamory Doumbia from Mali attempts a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it goes just wide to the right.
Oscar Dorley from Liberia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Aliou Dieng of Mali.
Mamadou Sangaré's left-footed shot from outside the box for Mali is blocked.
Attempt saved. Lassine Sinayoko from Mali has his right-footed shot from the center of the box saved in the bottom right corner by Ashley Williams of Liberia. The shot was assisted by Hamari Traoré with a cross.
Mali is awarded a corner after Ashley Williams concedes.
Ayouba Kosiah from Liberia commits a foul.
Nathan Gassama from Mali is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Mali wins a corner after Nohan Kenneh concedes.
Mali is awarded a corner after Mo Sangare concedes.
Foul committed by Sampson Dweh of Liberia.
Kamory Doumbia from Mali is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Salomon Tweh from Liberia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Ousmane Camara of Mali.
Kamory Doumbia's right-footed shot from the right side of the box for Mali is blocked.
Attempt missed. Daouda Guindo (Mali) has a left-footed shot from outside the box that goes close but misses to the left. He was assisted by Dorgeles Nene.
Dorgeles Nene from Mali wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Edward Ledlum of Liberia.
Sylvanus Nimely from Liberia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Hamari Traoré of Mali.
Mo Sangare from Liberia commits a foul.
Kamory Doumbia from Mali is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner awarded to Liberia after a concession by Nathan Gassama.
Attempt missed. Martial Tia from Mali has a right-footed shot from outside the box that goes to the left.
Martial Tia from Mali wins a free kick on the left wing.
Mo SangareYellow CardMo Sangare of Liberia receives a yellow card for a foul.
Foul committed by Mo Sangare of Liberia.
Corner awarded to Liberia after Lassine Sinayoko concedes.
Oscar Dorley from Liberia is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
Dorgeles Nene from Mali commits a foul.
Attempt blocked. Salomon Tweh from Liberia has a right-footed shot from outside the box that is blocked. Edward Ledlum provided the assist.
Attempt missed. Lassine Sinayoko (Mali) heads the ball from the center of the box but it goes to the left. The cross was assisted by Daouda Guindo following a corner.
Mali wins a corner after Mo Sangare concedes.
Mali wins a corner after Emmanuel Fully concedes.
Foul committed by Nathan Gassama of Mali.
Ayouba Kosiah from Liberia is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
Edward Ledlum from Liberia wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Lassine Sinayoko commits a foul for Mali.
Oscar Dorley's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.
Oscar Dorley's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.
Foul committed by Sampson Dweh of Liberia.
Kamory Doumbia from Mali is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Emmanuel Fully from Liberia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Hamari Traoré of Mali.
Foul committed by Sylvanus Nimely of Liberia.
Nathan Gassama from Mali wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Kamory Doumbia of Mali is caught offside.
Edward Ledlum from Liberia is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Dorgeles Nene commits a foul for Mali.
First half begins.
Liberia limp into this Group K clash on the back of a 3-1 opening loss to Rwanda, while Mali arrive full of confidence after downing Cape Verde. With home advantage in Monrovia their only real edge, Liberia will need something special to avoid an 0-2 start to qualifying.
