Hikma / La Sagesse - Bourj 0-0 in the 17th round of the Lebanese Second Division

After a series of 5 consecutive wins, the top team of the Lebanese Second Division, Bourj FC, were held to a 0-0 draw on Sunday, the 3rd of March 2019, by Hikma / La Sagesse, one of the teams struggling to avoid relegation. The match was played at Safa Stadium in Beirut, which is usually the home ground for both teams, so the game was not really ”away” for Bourj, whose fans dominated again in the stands.

Bourj missed many opportunities to score, even from the penalty spot. The surprise is that Bourj were unable to score even if Hikma / La Sagesse were crushed 6-0 (3-0 at half time) last week by Bourj main rivals, second-placed Shabab El Bourj.

The gap between the leaders, Bourj FC, and second classified, Shabab El Bourj, is only 2 points with 5 games to go. The good news for both teams is that third classified Ahly Sidon is now 7 points behind Bourj and 5 points behind Shabab El Bourj, so the two Bourj teams from the southern suburbs of Beirut remain the main candidates for promotion to the Lebanese Premier League.

Results, table and fixtures:

Round 17 (1-3 March 2019)

Al Islah Al Bourj Al Shimaly – Ahly Sidon 1-1

Nahda Barelias – Naser Barelias 3-3

Shabab Al Arabi – Mabarrah 1-1

Homenetmen – Shabab El Bourj 0-2

Hikma / La Sagesse – Bourj 0-0

Egtmaaey Tripoli – Ahly Nabatieh 2-4

Table

1	Bourj	17	12	4	1	32-6	40	Promotion to the Premier League
2	Shabab El Bourj	17	12	2	3	38-15	38	Promotion to the Premier League
3	Ahly Sidon	17	10	3	4	32-21	33
4	Ahly Nabatieh	17	6	6	5	34-37	24
5	Nahda Barelias	17	5	8	4	21-20	23
6	Egtmaaey Tripoli	17	6	3	8	32-28	21
7	Shabab Al Arabi	17	5	5	6	18-21	20
8	Mabarrah	17	4	7	6	14-17	19
9	Hikma / La Sagesse	17	4	7	6	21-29	19
10	Al Islah Al Bourj Al Sh.	17	4	4	9	18-33	16
11	Naser Barelias	17	4	2	11	13-30	14	Relegation to the Third Division
12	Homenetmen	17	4	1	12	23-39	13	Relegation to the Third Division

Round 18 (8-10 March 2019)

Egtmaaey Tripoli – Bourj

Homenetmen – Hikma / La Sagesse

Shabab Al Arabi – Shabab El Bourj

Mabarrah – Al Islah Al Bourj Al Shimaly

Ahly Sidon – Nahda Barelias

Ahly Nabatieh – Naser Barelias