Africa-Press – Liberia. The 2025 National County Sports Meet burst into life on Saturday December 13,2025 at the Martha Tubman Sports Stadium in Harper city Maryland County as hosts Maryland County and neighboring Grand Kru County played out gripping football and kickball encounters, both ending in hard-fought draws.
A packed stadium, vibrant county colors, and chants created a festive atmosphere as the two southeastern counties renewed their rivalry in the official opening fixtures of the tournament.
Football: A Dramatic Comeback
The headline football match delivered high drama. Grand Kru County dominated the early exchanges, stunning the home supporters by racing into a commanding 2-0 lead.
Exploiting defensive gaps and showing sharp attacking intent, Grand Kru appeared well on course for an opening-day victory.
However, Maryland County responded with remarkable resilience. Roared on by the home crowd, the hosts regrouped and pulled a goal back to shift the momentum of the contest.
This breakthrough injected renewed belief into the Maryland side, who increased their pressure and intensity in search of an equalizer.
Their persistence paid off as Maryland struck again later in the match, leveling the score at 2-2 and completing an impressive comeback. Despite late attempts from both teams to find a winner, the contest remained deadlocked at full time, with the points shared in a thrilling opening encounter.
Football Result – Full Time: Maryland County 2 – 2 Grand Kru County
Kickball: Goalless Stalemate
Earlier in the day, the kickball match between the two counties proved to be a tightly contested affair. Both sides displayed disciplined defending and tactical organization, limiting clear chances and effectively canceling each other out throughout the match.
Though the tempo remained high, neither team managed to break the deadlock, and the kickball clash ended in a homeless draw.
Kickball Result – Full Time: Maryland County 0 – 0 Grand Kru County
Theme and Funding
Beyond the on-field action, this year’s National County Sports Meet is being held under the theme, “Inclusive Development Through Sports,” highlighting the role of athletics in promoting unity, youth empowerment, and national cohesion.
The tournament continues to serve not only as a sporting competition but also as a national cultural festival that blends sports, music, tradition, and community pride.
In support of the event, the Ministry of Finance has already disbursed US$250,000 as initial operational funding, with an additional US$150,000 expected to be released in early January 2026 to support the smooth running of the tournament.
The opening-day double draw underscores the competitive balance of the 2025 National County Sports Meet and sets the stage for more exciting contests as counties battle for supremacy and national pride.
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