Bourj FC are winners of the Lebanese Challenge Cup, 2-0 over Salam Zgharta in the final

Saturday, the 24th of August 2019, 17:00 local time (14:00 UTC), Presdident Fouad Chebab Stadium, Jounieh, Lebanon, the final of the seventh edition of the Lebanese Challenge Cup.

Bourj FC finished in great style the 7th edition of the Lebanese Challenge Cup and the first in which they could participate as new members of the Premier League, winning all the games throughout the competition without receiving a single goal.

 Bourj FC, winners of the 2019 Lebanese Challenge Cup. Source: Bourj FC official Facebook page

Bourj FC and Salam Zgharta have already met in the group stage of the competition less than two weeks ago, on Tuesday, the 13th of August. The match was played on the same neutral ground, Fouad Chebab Stadium in Jounieh, and Bourj FC won 1-0 with a late goal by Samih Damaj.

 Bourj FC starting line-up in the Challenge Cup final. Photo: Abdallah Mahfouz. Source: Bourj FC official Facebook page

This time, the winners could be guessed after the first half. Supported by a large and enthusiastic crowd, Bourj FC played very well and missed a few chances by means of Stephen Sarfo and Ibrahim Abou Hamdan. In the last minute of the first half, a long pass by Hussein Al-Outa on the left side reached Ibrahim Abou Hamdan, who overtook the defenders and scored from inside the area with a shot to the right of the goalkeeper: 1-0 (45').

 Ibrahim Abu Hamdan scored the first goal of the match. Photo: Abdallah Mahfouz. Source: Bourj FC official Facebook page

In the second half, Bourj FC task to maintain their advantage became much easier after Rabih Al-Houbari was sent off for a second yellow card (63'). Down in ten, Salam Zgharta were unable to equalize. More than that, at the end of the game the decisive goal came for Bourj FC: Hamza Abboud executed a corner from the left, and Abdulfattah Achour headed the ball into the net from the far side: 2-0 (89').

 Abdulfattah Achour scored the second goal of the match. Source: elmaestrosport.com

Bourj FC: Mohamed Santina - Hamza Abboud, Mustafa Sall, Abdulfattah Achour, Walid Ismail - Mohammed Qassem, Mohammed Faour (Amin Halal 90'+5'), Hussein Ibrahim (Mohamed Al-Durr 90'+3), Hussein Al-Outa (Mohammed Jaafar 90'+1') - Stephen Sarfo (Ali Karaki 90'+6'), Ibrahim Abou Hamdan (Samih Damaj 75'). Head coach: Mohammad Dakka.

Salam Zgharta: Mustafa Matar - Hamza Al-Khair, Yasser Achour, Imad Karime (Michael Fenianos 86'), Ahmed Al-Masri, Jean-Jacques Yammine (Edmond Chehadeh 83'), Adnan Melhem, Hisham Al-Naboulsi (Georges Mouawad 72'), Rabih Al-Houbari, Shamil Soukar, Ani Elijah (Yahya Ghafour 81'). Head coach: Nihad Soukar.

Referee: Hussein Abu Yahya.

Yellow cards: Mohammed Qassem 45'+3', Samih Damaj 83' - Rabih Al-Hobari 54', 63', Ahmad Al-Masri 85'.

Red card: Rabih Al-Houbari 63' (second yellow card).
The full match record is available on YouTube page of MTV Lebanon.

 The Challenge Cup is given to the team captain, Walid Ismail, in the middle of Bourj FC players and staff. Source: elmaestrosport.com

This is a great achievement for Bourj FC, whose only success was in 1993 Lebanese Cup. 26 years passed since then, and now Bourj FC have won another cup, even of lesser importance - the Lebanese Challenge Cup. This adds to winning the Second Division and the promotion to the Premier League after 16 years of absence. It is a great performance for Bourj FC and all those involved deserve to be congratulated.