Liberia (7) v (3) Kyrgyzstan

By Finn Bradshaw

LIBERIA has emerged victorious from a bruising encounter with Kyrgyzstan, winning 7-3 at Yarra Pitch this afternoon.

Veronica Davies starred for Liberia, scoring four times and orchestrating play from the midfield.

A strong run and finish down the right was quickly followed by her second to give Liberia a quick 3-0 lead.

The teams traded goals for the rest of the half, with Gulbarchin Suyunova netting twice for Kyrgyzstan.

Going into half-time 5-2 down, Kyrgyzstan turned up the intensity after the break, handing out some physical treatment to the Liberians.

When Kyrgyzstan's Dinara Takirova intercepted a weak back pass to nip in and goal, the score was 5- 3 and a boilover was possible.

Moments later a crunching tackle on Davies by Takirova left the Kyrgyzstan player writhing in agony before she was carried from the pitch with an injured ankle.

The heat began to take its toll later in the half, allowing Liberia to regain its composure.

And when Davies scored her fourth with a rocket from half-way into the bottom left-hand corner, the win was secured.

In the final minute, a neat pass from Bendu Goi found Dehkontee Sayon unmarked at the top of the goal circle, and she duly slotted home her second goal, and Liberia's seventh.