Tuesday, 30 March 2021, 3.30 pm local time (12.30 pm UTC), Amin Abdelnour Stadium, Bhamdoun (neutral ground), Lebanon, the 2nd round of the Lebanese Premier League - play-out.
In a very difficult position in the table, Shabab Al Ghazieh desperately needed a win in this match, while Bourj FC, already saved, treated the game more as a friendly, in a rather relaxed manner, even leaving some important players out of the starting eleven, which of course gave way to interpretations.
The first half was very balanced, with both teams struggling mainly in the midfield, but few goal opportunities. Zein Al Abidin Farran's shot from just outside the box was saved by the goalkeeper (22'), and Bourj had some more promising chances, but it was Shabab Al Ghazieh who took the lead towards the end of the half, after two consecutive errors from Bourj players. First, Hussein Ibrahim lost a ball to an opponent, who passed mistakenly and Bourj had the ball again, but Ahmed Al Khatib failed to send the ball away from the danger zone and was dispossessed by Youssef Atris, whose shot went in, giving Shabab Al Ghazieh the lead: 0-1 (39').
In the second half, Shabab Al Ghazieh players made an excellent collective game, especially in defense, resisting to all Bourj attacks. The only danger came from some long range shots, such as the one by Ibrahim Abou Hamdan, which went wide (61'). The match could have been decided after a counterattack, when Youssef Atris was fouled inside the box and the referee correctly awarded the penalty for Shabab Al Ghazieh (77'). Nevertheless, Mohamed Ayoub failed to convert, as the direction of his strong shot was anticipated by goalkeeper Abdel Karim Saleh (78').
More than that, with a better morale, Bourj FC succeeded to equalize: Ahmed Al Khatib crossed from the left, Samih Damaj headed the ball from the right towards Fadel Antar, who headed it in: 1-1 (83').
Bourj equalized by means of Fadel Antar's header. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page (photo by Abdallah Mahfouz)
In the final minutes, both teams had chances to score the winning goal, but missed.
Bourj: Abdel Karim Saleh - Mohamed Al Dor, Khodor Hallak, Ahmed Al Khatib, Ibrahim Abou Hamdan - Hassan Annan, Hussein Ibrahim (Hussein Al Outa 56'), Mohamad Kassem - Zein Al Abidin Farran, Fadel Antar, Mohamad Nasser (Samih Damaj 70').
Al Ghazieh: Ali Hajj Hassan - Hassan Deeb (Kassem Layla 56'), Ali Qubeisi, Jamal Khalifa (Hussein Nasrallah 89'), Ali Yazbek, Hadi Madi, Youssef Atris, Ahmed Makki (Hassan Hammoud 66'), Mohamad Ayoub (Mohamad Sardah 89'), Haidar Abou Zaid, Karim Mansour (Akram Trad 56').
Referee: Samer Al-Sayed Qasim.
Yellow cards: Youssef Atris (30').
In the other match of the day, Tadamon Sour won 2-1 over Salam Zgharta. Salam Zgharta are mathematically relegated, while Tadamon Sour now have four points ahead of Shabab Al Ghazieh with three rounds to go. Bourj FC are mathematically saved from relegation and will play their next match against Tadamon Sour, on Monday, 5 April 2021.
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