Invincible Eleven Reaches Orange Cup Final for the First Time in More Than a Decade

By: W. Roland James

Bushrod Island: The arena of the D. Tewh Sport Pitch in New Kru Town on Sunday, March 31, 2024, was a scene of attraction for the Sunshine Yellow Boys of Invincible Eleven after seeing off Global Pharma on a goal aggregate in their 4-4 draw from both legs in the semi-finals to reach the final of the Orange Cup for the first time in thirteen years.

In an eye-catching encounter of the first leg at the Tusa Field, Invincible Eleven (IE) narrowly whipped Global Pharma 2-1 at home before traveling away on Sunday at the D. Tweh Sports Pitch where Coach Kelvin Sebwe's IE was stunned 3-2 in the return leg but managed to qualify on aggregate in advantage of away goals.

The return leg saw Invincible Eleven in the lead with an opener from Joel Berry in the first half but was later equalized a few minutes after the break by a brilliant finish from a strike by James Richardson to level things for the Pharmacists.

Fast forward after conceding, the Sunshine boys of IE heightened their pressure against the home side to retake the lead by 2-1, moments when Benjamin Sarkoh netted to put back Global Pharma on the path with the score 2-2 in the dramatic encounter.

The Pharmacists after getting the second equalizer could not rest from their momentum till James Richardson converted his second strike to move ahead of Invincible Eleven and grab a 3-2 win in the match's result that saw IE progressing on the FA's away goal rules despite their defeat to Global Pharma at the famous D. Tweh Sports Pitch.

Kelvin Sebwe, a former Liberia National Team player and now head coach of Invincible Eleven will be taking the traditional IE in search of another Orange Cup trophy since 2011 when the club last won the tournament 1-0 against Barrack Young Controllers.

IE which having to be struggling in the Orange first division league will look to face first division title contenders Paynesville FC who on the other hand trashed Jubilee FC 5-2 in both legs of another semi-final encounter to form the 2024 Orange Cup finalists.

Invincible Eleven is currently at 10th place in the Orange First Division League while their counterpart, Jubilee FC sits at 3rd place on the league table with many fans are of the view that the tournament is a different competition.

This year's edition of the Orange Cup Final, to be rocked between IE and Jubilee FC is expected to be held on the 28th of April 2024 with the winner automatically qualifying for the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.