Bourj FC remain leaders after narrow win over Hikma / Sagesse

Bourj FC - Hikma / Sagesse 2-1 (0-0)

Khaled Takaji 51', Richard Baffour 73' - Ali Karaki 66'.

Friday, 28 October 2022, 3 pm local time (12 noon UTC), Amin Abdelnour Stadium, Bhmadoun, Aley, Lebanon, 8th round of the Lebanese Premier League.

 Bourj FC starting line-up against Hikma / Sagesse. Photo source:the-lfa.com

After the first defeat this season, last week, 3-1 to Ansar, Bourj FC needed very much a positive result in the match against Hikma / Sagesse. Manager Osama Al Sakr made several changes to the starting eleven compared to last week, especially in defense and central midfield, and it eventually paid off.

The first half seemed to have been uninteresting, according to those who were able to witness it. MTV Sports broadcasted only the second half. Luckily, at least in terms of goals, the half time score was 0-0, so everything was to be decided in the second half.

Normally, Bourj FC were the ones who pushed for a goal, and this came early in the second half. Mohamad El Dor's cross from the right was headed back by Stephen Sarfo to Khaled Takaji, on the edge of the box, and his wicked shot passed through the legs of defenders and ended up in the net, to the left of the goalkeeper: 1-0 (51').

Khaled Takaji (in yellow) contributed decisively to Bourj's win. Photo source:the-lfa.com

Once in front, Bourj FC made a step back, allowing Hikma / Sagesse to come forward and attack, while Bourj FC applied the usual tactics of good defending and fast counterattacking. Nevertheless, the opponents succeeded to equalize, after an extraordinary individual action by Ali Karaki, who dribbled several players and then sent the ball in the upper left corner of the goal: 1-1 (66'). The former Bourj player refused to celebrate his great goal, as a sign of respect to his former team.

Of course, roles changed again, and Bourj FC went back in offensive mood. It did not last long until they took the lead again. Mohamed Sibaii "Wartan" executed a free kick from the right side, crossed the ball perfectly for Richard Baffour's header from short range: 2-1 (73').

Richard Baffour, impossible to be stopped in the air, scored the second Bourj goal. Photo source:the-lfa.com

Nothing of real importance happened until the end, and Bourj are sure of staying for at least another week on top of the league table.

Bourj FC starting line-up: Abdelkarim Saleh - Mohamad El Dor, Richard Baffour, Shadi Skaf, Mohamad Hammoud - Mohamad El Faour, Mohamed Sibaii "Wartan" - Denis Tetteh, Khaled Takaji, Mohamed Omar Sadek - Stephen Sarfo. Manager: Osama Al Sakr. Subs in the second half: Saad Shawiki, Hussein Al Outa, Ali Merkabaoui, Mahmoud Kawar.

Bourj FC achieved their first objective this season, to qualify for the play-off. Regarding their position within the top six (or the top five, to be more precise), the real tests will follow in the last three weeks of the regular season, when they will face Al Ahed, Nejmeh and Shabab Sahel, all among the strongest teams in the league.

Results, table and fixtures:

 

Round 8 (28-30 October 2022)

 

Shabab Sahel – Shabab Al-Ghazieh 4-0

Bourj – Hikma / Sagesse 2-1

Tadamon Sour – Al Ahed 0-1

Nejmeh – Safa 1-0

Ansar – Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley 3-0

AC Tripoli – Salam Zgharta 1-1

 

Table

 

1	Bourj	8	7	0	1	16-7	21
2	Ansar	8	6	2	0	24-5	20
3	Al Ahed	8	6	1	1	16-5	19
4	Nejmeh	8	6	1	1	13-4	19
5	Shabab Sahel	8	5	3	0	13-4	18
6	Safa	8	2	2	4	8-13	8
7	Tadamon Sour	8	2	2	4	9-12	8
8	Hikma / Sagesse	8	2	1	5	7-10	7
9	Shabab Al-Ghazieh	8	1	2	5	7-15	5
10	Salam Zgharta	8	1	1	6	5-13	4
11	Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley	8	1	0	7	7-20	3
12	AC Tripoli	8	0	3	5	2-19	3

 

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 (4-6 November 2022)

 

Safa – Shabab Sahel

Tadamon Sour – Nejmeh

Bourj – Al Ahed

AC Tripoli – Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley

Ansar – Hikma / Sagesse

Salam Zgharta – Shabab Al Ghazieh