Bourj FC qualified for the Challenge Cup semifinals as winners of Group A after 2-0 over Shabab El Bourj

Tuesday, 20 July 2021, 5:30 pm local time (2:30 pm UTC), Fouad Chehab Stadium, Jounieh, Lebanon, Challenge Cup, Group A, match 3.

Bourj FC and Shabab El Bourj met again in a local derby in the last match of Group A. Their rivalry was visible in the field, and also the score reflected that there is no "cooperation" between the two: Bourj FC were already qualified to the semifinals, while Shabab El Bourj needed at least a draw... but Bourj FC had no mercy of their neighbours, and this result actually determined that AC Tripoli is the second classified in the group and therefore qualified for the semifinals, while Shabab El Bourj are out of the competition.

Bourj FC are again in the semifinals of the Challenge Cup. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page

Indeed, during the match, it was easy to see that Bourj FC played with no pressure, they created lots of opportunities, while their opponents seldom reached the opposite box. Just like in the previous game, the first goal came right before the break: after a corner from the left side, the ball reached Youssef Atriss at the edge of the box, and he scored with a beautiful shot, to the left of the goalkeeper: 1-0 (43').

In the second half, despite their need to equalize, Shabab El Bourj seemed unable to create any danger, while Bourj FC continued to control the game and to have numerous goal chances. Three minutes after he came in as a sub, Samih Damaj reached the ball a second before the goalkeeper and scored with a header, finalizing a cross from another sub, Ali Merkabaoui: 2-0 (72').

Bourj: Abdel Karim Saleh - Mohammad El Dor, Hassan Abdallah Bitar, Shadi Skaff, Youssef Anbar (Ibrahim Abou Hamdan 69') - Mohammad El Faour (Ali Kharroubi 78'), Abbas Atwi "Onika" - Abou Baker Al Mel (Samih Damaj 69'), Youssef Atriss (Mohammad Kassem 76'), Hussein Al Outa (Ali Merkabaoui 69') - Akram Moghrabi. Manager: Fouad Hijazi.

Shabab El Bourj: Hadi Khalil - Ali Harb, Bilal Nasrallah, Yasser Achour, Mohammad Baker El Husseini, Hassan Dib, Hassan El Hajj, Mehdi Tlays Abou Mohsen, Mohammad Sibaii "Wartan", Moussa Zayyat (Mohammad Saleh 69'), Hassan El Kadi, Ali Imad Moussawi. Manager: Mohammad Nasser.

In the semifinals, on Sunday, Bourj FC will face newly-promoted Sporting Club Beirut, while AC Tripoli will play against the other newly-promoted team, Hikma / La Sagesse (winners of Group B).