Bourj FC had a great opportunity to achieve promotion to the Lebanese Premier League. In the last round of the Lebanese Second Division, they needed to win the last match at home against fourth-placed Mabarrah, a team which had nothing to gain (or to lose). However, tension was high among the three top clubs in the division, for which promotion was in reach.
On Saturday, at 14.15 local time, Shabab Sahel played against Shabab Al-Ghazieh in the other decisive match for promotion. At the same time, Bourj played against Mabarrah, officially at home, but practically on Al Ahed Stadium and behind closed doors due to a penalty imposed by the Lebanese Football Association.
If Bourj had won, they would have been mathematically promoted regardless of the result in the other match. However, despite the high stakes which should have motivated the players, they were only able to secure a 1-1 draw.
This result would have been enough only if Shabab Sahel did not win the other game. Nevertheless, this has not happened, as Shabab Sahel won 2-1 to become champions of the Second Division and achieve a come back to the Lebanese Premier League after just one year spent in the Second Division. Despite losing, Shabab Al Ghazieh benefited from the poor result of Bourj FC and promoted as well, as second-classified.
In the final classification of the Lebanese Second Division, Shabab Sahel finished on top with 50 points, followed by Shabab Al-Ghazieh - 49 points, Bourj - 48 points and Mabarrah - 38 points. Full classification and details of the 2017-2018 Lebanese Second Division is available here.
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