First win for Cusco FC in the 2022 Peruvian Second Division

Sport Chavelines - Cusco FC 0-1 (0-1)

F. Rodríguez 37'.

Sunday, 24 April 2022, 3:30 pm local time (8:30 pm UTC), Municipal Stadium, Pacasmayo, Peru, 4th round of the Peruvian Second Division.

Cusco FC (in golden kits) fought hard and won all the points away at Chavelines. Source: La Republica

Cusco FC won their first game this season, though it was expected of them to win sooner or later, because they are (at least on paper) the best team in the Peruvian Second Division and any other result would be considered as a terrific fail. And there were two such failures so far: one away at Unión Comercio (a 1-0 defeat) and a 2-2 draw at home against Alfonso Ugarte. Another bad result would have been inconceivable, and manager Pablo Peirano prepared the match thoroughly.

The first half clearly belonged to the visitors, who charged continuously, while the home side defended properly, and counterattacked whenever possible. The only goal of the game came late in the first half, and it was not the result of an action, but of a set piece, as Felipe Rodríguez executed perfectly a free kick with his left foot: 0-1 (37').

Cusco FC had various chances to increase their lead, both in the end of the first half and during the second half, but missed all the opportunities. This could have costed them the points, because Chavelines started the second half quite determined to equalize and attacked more and more towards the end of the game, increasing the pressure.

However, the Cusco defence resisted bravely until the end.

Chavelines: Mayta - J. García, Arana, Aragón, A. Paredes - L. Carrillo, M. Ramírez, Collante - Pérez (R. Chávez 15', A. Carrillo 60'), Córdova, D. Valencia. Manager: José Soto.

Cusco: Ferreyra - Velásquez, Minaya, Benincasa, Corrales - Abisab, Ayarza (Morales 65'), Aucca - Villano (Carranza 65'), Montes (Fajardo 73'), F. Rodríguez (Ramúa 79'). Manager: Pablo Peirano.

Referee: Julio Quiroz.

Yellow cards: Ayarza 39', Villano 64'.

In the next round, on Saturday afternoon, Cusco FC will face Pirata FC at home.

First win ever for Shabab El Bourj in the city derby against Bourj FC

Shabab El Bourj - Bourj FC 1-0 (1-0)

Hassan El Kadi 24' penalty.

Saturday, 23 April 2022, 4 pm local time (1 pm UTC), Amin Abdelnour Stadium, Bhamdoun (Aley), Lebanon, 8th round of the championship play-off, Lebanese Premier League.

The Bourj el-Barajneh derby always attracts a lot of passion but this time the passion might have turned for more than just passion, as Shabab El Bourj succeeded their first ever win (as far as one can remember) over their fierce rivals, Bourj FC.

It was more than a surprise, given that Bourj FC have won almost every time in the latest seasons, even when the two teams competed and promoted together from the Second Division. Moreover, Bourj FC are involved in the fight for the second place, while Shabab El Bourj may fight for the fifth place at best. And, to put things into another perspective, Bourj FC had only lost two league matches throughout the whole season (both to Ansar), while Shabab El Bourj had only won one game in the championship play-off before this game.

Among other causes for this surprising result, one noticed from the very beginning the determination of Shabab El Bourj players, who dominated the start of the game and had their first chance in the 7th minute. On the other hand, Bourj FC had an unusual starting line-up, including some players who haven't played too much this season, and wore unusual kits, including grey shirts which have not been seen before.

The goal came midway into the first half, after a penalty given for a foul made by Ibrahim Abou Hamdan on Abbas Awad inside the box. Hassan El Kadi transformed: 1-0 (24').

Bourj FC had enough time to equalize, almost three quarters of the match remaining. It was however impossible, due to the heroic defensive led by Shabab El Bourj goalkeeper, Ahmad Taktouk, the man of the match. Almost the entire Shabab El Bourj team defended, at least from one point in the game, but they succeeded to preserve the score and to keep a clean sheet, for their first ever win over Bourj FC.

To enumerate all the chances missed by Bourj FC would be pointless.

Shabab El Bourj players and staff celebrated the win at the end of the match, while Bourj FC players are seen in the back, analyzing the defeat. Source: Shabab El Bourj Facebook page

Shabab El Bourj: Ahmad Taktouk - Ali Harb, Hassan Hazimeh, Mohammad El Husseini, Abbas Awad, Ayman Abou Sahyoun, Mehdi Tleys "Abou Mohsen", Mohammad Sibaii "Wartan", Hassan El Kadi, Hussein Ali Awada, Ali Imad Moussawi (Hassan El Hajj 36'). Manager: Youssef Al Jawhari.

Bourj: Abdelkarim Saleh - Ibrahim Abou Hamdan, Khodor Hallak, Shadi Skaf, Youssef Anbar - Mohamad Al Faour (Hassan Bitar 85'), Ali Kharoubi - Abou Baker Al Mel, Hussein Al Outa (Mohamad Sadek 67'), Bersyl Obassi - Akram Moghrabi. Manager: Fouad Hijazi.

Referee: Maher Al Ali.

Yellow cards: Ali Harb 75' - Ibrahim Abou Hamdan 24', Abbas Atwi "Onika" 85'.

This win consolidated the fifth place for Shabab El Bourj, which would be anyway their best ever performance in the Lebanese Premier League. Bourj FC are also close to their best ever performance in the Premier League, if they remain in second place. However, in just two rounds, the gap between them and third place Ansar reduced from 7 points to just one point, with two rounds to go. Al Ahed, already champions, will be referees in this fight for the second place, because they will face both Ansar and Bourj in the remaining two rounds. Al Ahed objective would be to finish this season unbeaten.

In the play-out, the fate of AC Sporting Beirut has been sealed, they are already relegated, after just one year in the Premier League. Safa won 4-0 over Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley and the second relegated team is yet to be determined, probably out of this two, although Hikma / Sagesse are not yet completely out of trouble.

Full results, tables and fixtures:

 

Play-off

 

Round 8 (23 April 2022)

 

Shabab Sahel – Al Ahed 0-3

Shabab El Bourj – Bourj 1-0

Tadamon Sour – Ansar 1-2

 

Table

 

1	Al Ahed (C)	19	15	4	0	43-5	49	Qualified for the AFC Cup
2	Bourj	19	10	6	3	22-14	36
3	Ansar	19	10	5	4	35-14	35
4	Shabab Sahel	19	8	2	9	28-33	26
5	Shabab El Bourj	19	6	3	10	21-36	21
6	Tadamon Sour	19	4	5	10	16-24	17

 

C – Champions

 

If two or more teams have the same number of points, the results of head-to-head matches between them are the main ranking criteria.

 

Round 9 (28 April 2022)

 

Shabab Sahel – Bourj

Shabab El Bourj – Tadamon Sour

Ansar – Al Ahed

 

Round 10 (5 May 2022)

 

Bourj – Al Ahed

Shabab El Bourj – Ansar

Tadamon Sour – Shabab Sahel

 

Play-out

 

Round 8 (24 April 2022)

 

Hikma / Sagesse – AC Tripoli 1-1

AC Sporting – Nejmeh 2-3

Safa – Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley 4-0

 

Table

 

7	AC Tripoli	19	8	4	7	21-20	28
8	Nejmeh	19	8	8	3	26-15	26	[1]
9	Hikma / Sagesse	19	7	3	9	15-29	24
10	Safa	19	5	4	10	16-27	19
11	Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley	19	5	4	10	12-24	19	Relegation to Second Division
12	AC Sporting (R)	19	3	2	14	15-29	11	Relegated to Second Division

 

R – Relegated

 

If two or more teams have the same number of points, the results of head-to-head matches between them are the main ranking criteria.

 

Round 9 (29-30 April 2022)

 

Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley – AC Tripoli

Hikma / Sagesse – Nejmeh

Safa – AC Sporting

 

Round 10 (6 May 2022)

 

Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley – AC Sporting

Hikma / Sagesse – Safa

AC Tripoli – Nejmeh

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[1] Nejmeh were deducted 6 points for not attending the game against Al Ahed in round 9.