Bourj FC - Nejmeh 0-2 (0-2)
Kassem El Zein 15', Vítor Hugo Freitas "Barata" 33'
Sunday, 23 April 2023, 4 pm local time (1 pm UTC), Fouad Chehab Stadium, Jounieh (behind closed doors), Lebanese FA Cup semifinal (single match).
Bourj FC starting line-up. Source: Lebanese FA
Nejmeh starting line-up. Source: Lebanese FA
Bourj FC are for the third consecutive year in the Lebanese FA Cup semifinals, and it is also the third time that they miss the entry into the Cup final, this time losing to the last year winners, Nejmeh. Nejmeh were clear favourites from the very start, but they also took benefit from the absence of several Bourj players. Khaled Takaji, Mohamad Hammoud and Mahmoud Kaawar had their contracts terminated before this match for unknown reasons, while Abdul Karim Saleh, Mohamad Sadek and Ali Chaito were punished by the club for some ambiguous reasons, and were not included in the squad. Most likely, they will also leave the club, and Mohamad Sadek (Bourj's most valuable player in 2022-2023) will probably move to... Nejmeh, the opponents, so perhaps it was a wise decision not to employ him in a match against his future team.
Hussein Ibrahim, Ali Merkabawi and Khodor Hallak (Bourj FC, left to right, all in yellow) trying to get the ball. Source: Lebanese FA
The match was clearly dominated by Nejmeh, which had no problems in winning and set the final result in the first half. They took the lead after a set piece. Vítor Hugo Freitas "Barata" executed a free kick from the right side, crossed into the box, and Kassem El Zein headed just below the crossbar: 0-1 (15').
Goalkeeper Hassan Moghnieh was unable to block Kassem El Zein's header. Source: Lebanese FA
The match did not change much after the goal, and Nejmeh looked for a second goal, which came. Jefinho provided an amazing heel pass to Vítor Hugo Freitas "Barata" who seized the opportunity and sent a wonderful long-range shot to the upper right corner: 0-2 (33').
Nejmeh players celebrate the goal. Source: Lebanese FA
The match winners had been already established, as Bourj FC responded rather weakly, unable to break through Nejmeh's defensive lines. The only question that remained to be solved was the final score, and indeed this could have been different, because Nejmeh had plenty of other opportunities, especially in the second half.
Shadi Skaf (Bourj FC, in yellow, #3) and Ali Rida Ismail (Nejmeh, in red, #2) battle for control of the ball, watched by Mohamad Faour (in yellow, #5) and Mahdi Zein (in red, #3) in the back-left. Source: Lebanese FA
Goalkeeper Hassan Moghnieh had an excellent second half, as he succeeded to save many shots coming from Nejmeh forwards. In other cases, these forwards missed the target.
On the other hand, Bourj FC looked a bit better in the second half, when several youngsters were introduced, some of them for the first time in the field at senior level. Mohamad Saleh made a great impression, as he revitalized the Bourj offensive and even had Bourj's biggest chance to score, when he courageously took a free kick from just outside the area and smashed the ball on target, but Ali Halal made an impressive save (59').
Mohamad Saleh (Bourj FC, in yellow) came up at half time and made a great game, despite his team losing. Source: Lebanese FA
Eventually, nobody scored another goal in the second half, so Nejmeh won 2-0 deservedly and qualified once again for the Lebanese FA Cup final. In the final they will meet their rivals Al Ahed, who smashed Shabab Sahel in the other semifinal, 4-0.
Bourj FC: Hassan Moghnieh - Mohamad El Dor, Richard Baffour, Khodor Hallak, Shadi Skaf - Mohamad El Faour, Hussein Ibrahim (Mohamad Saleh), Mohamad Sibaii "Wartan" (Mohamad Nassereldine) - Hussein Al Outa (Ali Rahal), Dennis Tetteh (Uday Al Shammari), Ali Merkabawi (Mohamad Safwan). Manager: Hussein Tahan.
Nejmeh: Ali Halal - Ali Hammam, Kassem El Zein, Maher Sabra, Ali Al Ridha, Ali Rida Ismail (Kassem Awada), Mahdi Zein (Karim Abou Said), Vítor Hugo Freitas "Barata", Bilal Najdi (Hassan Kourani), Khalil Badr (Hassan Chaito "Moni"), Jefinho (Ali Alaeddine). Manager: Paulo Menezes.
Referee: Maher Al Ali.
The season will be over for all Lebanese clubs after the FA Cup final, scheduled next Sunday. However, the clubs have already started preparations for transfers. In this context, Bourj FC have already announced their first transfer for 2023-2024: Tunisian attacking midfielder Houssem Louati, who played for Ansar in 2022-2023.
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