Bourj FC and Tadamon Sour drew 1-1 in the second round of the Lebanese Premier League

Sunday, 19 September 2021, 3:30 pm local time (12:30 pm UTC), Amin Abdelnour Stadium, Bhamdoun (Aley), Lebanon, 2nd round of the Lebanese Premier League.

Bourj FC starting XI. Source: elmaestrosport.com

After an astonishing win last week against defending champions Ansar, Bourj FC started as big favourites against Tadamon Sour, one of the teams which last year fought to avoid relegation. Nevertheless, the situation in the field proved to be rather different from what everyone expected, and Tadamon Sour took an early lead. Bourj goalkeeper, Abdel Karim Saleh, did not catch properly a simple ball which slipped through his hands, giving away a corner kick for Tadamon. Rabah Mazbouh took the corner, and Ali Abdallah Bitar headed the ball in: 0-1 (4').

Bourj FC looked for an equalizer during the entire first half, but Mohammad Santina made a couple of excellent saves which denied Abou Baker Al Mel or Ali Merkabaoui. Right before the break, Hassan Mehanna succeeded to dribble Kazzem Attieh and to get into the box, where the Tadamon defender made a foul (43'). The referee gave a penalty but did not show a second yellow card for Attieh. Abou Baker Al Mel transformed the penalty: 1-1 (44').

Abou Baker Al Mel (in yellow), here surrounded by Tadamon Sour players, scored the equalizer from the penalty spot. Source: elmaestrosport.com

In the second half, it was expected that Bourj FC would put a lot of pressure, but in fact Tadamon succeeded to control a good part of the game and even had a good chance to score a winner. However, Adnan Melhem headed out from short range (59'). Bourj FC regained the control of the game towards the end of the match, had more possession of the ball, but did not create any real danger to the opposite goal.

Abbas Ali Atwi "Onika" (wearing no. 10) played again for Bourj FC in the Premier League after almost 20 years. Source: elmaestrosport.com

Bourj FC: Abdel Karim Saleh - Mohammad El Dor, Khodor Hallak, Hassan Abdallah Bitar, Youssef Anbar - Mohammad Al Faour (Mohammad Kassem 68'), Hussein Ibrahim "Saaouk", Abbas Ali Atwi "Onika" (Ali Kharroubi 89') - Abou Baker Al Mel "Bako" (Samih Damaj 68'), Hassan Mehanna, Ali Merkabaoui (Hussein Al Outa 55'). Manager: Fouad Hijazi.

Tadamon Sour: Mohammad Santina - Mostafa Noureddine, Kazzem Attieh, Wael Youssef (Abbas Cherkawi 46'), Ali Abdallah Bitar, Mohammad Dbouk (Bilal Hajjo 57'), Ghazi Hneineh, Salim Hamadeh (Bilal El Sabbagh 57'), Rabah Mazbouk (Ghassan Sarriyeh 86'), Adnan Melhem, Ali Hourani (Karim Mansour 68'). Manager: Mohammad Zouheir.

Referee: Hadi Salameh.

Yellow cards: Hassan Abdallah Bitar 23' - Kazzem Attieh 25', Salim Hamadeh 40', Bilal Hajjo 77'.

Bourj FC have now 4 points after two rounds and are top of the league together with Shabab Sahel (which have the best goal difference) and Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley, all with 4 points. Al Ahed have 3 points but their match in the second round was postponed. Tadamon Sour have 2 points.

In the next round, on Saturday, 25 September, Bourj FC will face Al Ahed in a much expected local derby, while Tadamon Sour will play at home against Hikma / La Sagesse.