Sunday, the 4th of October 2020, 4 pm local time (1 pm UTC), Saida International / Rafic Hariri Stadium, Sidon, Lebanon, 1st round of the Lebanese Premier League.
After exactly one year since the last official game was played in the Lebanese League, the 2020-2021 season started with low expectations, given the troubled financial and political context in Lebanon, to which the COVID-19 pandemic is added. This is the first season after at least 30 years when foreign players are not allowed in the Lebanese teams, which should therefore count only on the local players. Spectators are also not allowed due to safety and health concerns.
Bourj FC succeeded to maintain their staff, headed by manager Mohamad Dakka, and most of their players after a year (October 2019 - September 2020) when football was not on the agenda in Lebanon. However, their first match in the 2020-2021 season proved to be a difficult one, against three-time champions Al Ahed. Theoretically, Bourj were the home side, but, very much like before, the match was played at Rafic Hariri Stadium in Sidon (Saida), a rather neutral venue, and without spectators. Al Ahed had some troubles during this summer, and they have just named a new manager, the former well-known player Roda Antar. Moreover, just before the game, three important players became ill with COVID-19 and were unable to travel.
So, there were some chances for Bourj FC to get a good result. The beginning of the match confirmed the rumours, as Bourj FC was the team which controlled most of the game and had the biggest chance when a shot by Al-Outa hit the crossbar (14'). Nevertheless, the visitors took the lead after a free kick from the left side: the ball was sent inside the area, where it luckily reached Mohamad Kdouh, whose shot found the gap between the defenders and the goalkeeper: 0-1 (30'). Bourj FC reacted promptly, and equalized after a nice action on the left by Mohamad Jaafar, who passed to Abou Bakr Al-Mel inside the area, and his shot went in: 1-1 (35'). No long after, a cross by Hamza Abboud from the right was spectacularly driven in by an overhead kick, managed perfectly by Hussein Al-Outa: 2-1 (37').
Abou Bakr Al-Mel (Bourj FC) made an excellent match and jumped for joy after he equalized. Source: elmaestrosport.com
Unfortunately for Bourj FC, the second half belonged to Al Ahed, at least in the beginning, when the score was overturned again. First, a cross from the left by Hussein Dakik was headed in by Mohamad Kdouh, while goalkeeper Mohamad Hammoud did not react properly for an easy ball: 2-2 (54'). The same Mohamad Kdouh succeeded a hat-trick with a great long-range shot, which hit the target: 2-3 (62'). Al Ahed stopped the engines again and tried to preserve the score afterwards, while Bourj FC attacked relentlessly but hopelessly, as Al Ahed defence seemed impenetrable. However, Bourj FC had two good chances from inside the area, both missed, by Hamza Abboud and Hussein Al-Outa.
Mohamad Kdouh (right, in black) scored a hat-trick which gave the win to Al Ahed. Source: elmaestrosport.com
Bourj FC: Mohamad Hammoud - Hamza Abboud, Khader Hallaq, Ahmed Al Khatib (Ibrahim Abou Hamdan 82'), Walid Ismail - Hassan Al Annan (Mohamad Nasser 70'), Mohamad Al Faour (Mohamad Al-Dur 70'), Hussein Ibrahim - Abou Bakr Al-Mel (Fadl Antar 81'), Mohamad Jaafar, Hussein Al-Outa. Manager: Mohamad Dakka.
Al Ahed: Mehdi Khalil - Hussein Zein, Nour Mansour, Jad Noureddine (Mohamad Al Hussaini 46'), Hussein Dakik - Walid Chour (Mahdi Fahes 46'), Hassan Srour - Mohamad Kdouh (Haitham Faour 87'), Mohamad Haidar, Ali Al Hajj (Jamil Ibrahim 76') - Tarek Al Ali (Mahmoud Masri 76'). Manager: Roda Antar.
Referee: Hadi Saleme.
Yellow cards: Hamza Abboud 28' - Mohamad Haidar 85', Hussein Zein 88'.
The match was broadcasted by MTV Lebanon and is available on Facebook: First half Second half
Next Sunday, in the second round, Bourj FC will play the derby of the Dahieh against Shabab Sahel, another difficult game, also at Saida International / Rafic Hariri Stadium in Sidon. Al Ahed will play at home (Al Ahed Stadium) against Al-Akhaa Al-Ahly Aley.
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