Bourj FC - Racing Club Beirut 1-1 (0-0)
Hilal El-Helwe 84' - Mostafa El Shamaa 57'.
Sunday, 20 August 2023, 4:30 pm local time (1:30 UTC), Fouad Chehab Stadium, Jounieh, Lebanon, 3rd round of the Lebanese Premier League.
Bourj FC staff and players for the 2023-2024 season. Photo source: Bourj FC Facebook page
Racing starting line-up. Photo source: Racing Facebook page
Bourj FC were favourites in this game, as they were on top of the table and the overall better team, but Racing made a very good match and were not far even from winning it, taking their opponents by surprise many times.
Bourj FC dominated in the field, had most of the ball possession, but they lacked the final touch, to score a goal. They had plenty of opportunities, but missed them easily. Moreover, manager Hussein Tahan made several changes from the previous games, ignoring one golden rule in sports: never change the winning team. He made not one, but three changes compared to the starting XI in the previous game (a 4-0 win over Shabab Al-Ghazieh). None of the changes proved beneficial to the team, and they suffered quite a lot even in defense, as Racing created also many dangerous offensive actions, and their counterattacks looked very strong.
Nevertheless, it was Bourj FC which missed the biggest chances, right before the break. After a corner, the ball reached Shadi Skaf, all alone, just a few meters from the target, but he managed to shoot above the crossbar, which was more difficult from that position than to score a goal (45'). In the next attack, Ali Hajj Hassan saved an excelent shot by Houssem Louati (45'+1').
The second half started very much the same way, with Bourj attacking rather predictably and Racing counterattacking dangerously. Nevertheless, Racing's goal came from a set piece, more precisely a corner kick from the left side. Mostafa El Shamaa rised above everyone and headed in: 0-1 (57').
Mostafa El Shamaa (with his hand in the air) scored the goal for Racing.
This has been the first goal received by Bourj FC since the start of the league season, and it could have costed them a lot. Probably shocked, Bourj defenders made a couple of big mistakes in the next two minutes, and Racing missed two big chances to double their advantage (58' and 59').
As a result, Hussein Tahan replaced almost the entire defensive line. He replaced one defender (Mohamad El Dor) for a forward (Tidiane Camara), risking everything. Mohamad El Husseini was replaced by Khodor Hallak as centre back, Mohamad El Faour became a centre back as well, while Shadi Skaf was moved on the left, and Mohamad Zein Tahan on the right.
The match soon changed into a continuous assault towards Racing's box, with Bourj FC giving up the slow building up of attacks, while throwing long balls to the tall guys in the opposite box, hoping that something will come out. Racing defended well, clearing most of these balls, which reached again Bourj defenders, and so on. Bourj FC also tried by means of long range shots, but none of the forwards or midfielders were in their best day. Houssem Louati perhaps tried more than any other, even from a number of free kicks, but usually his shots went wide, or Ali Hajj Hassan saved. Racing goalkeeper made an extraordinary match, and he was not far from a clean sheet.
Eventually, he was beaten. Khodor Hallak launched a long ball towards Tidiane Camara, who headed to the centre of the box, where Hilal El Helwe was in excellent position and unmarked, finding the target with a good shot: 1-1 (84').
Bourj FC continued to press for a winning goal, and they had even more time, as there were 10 minutes of added time, due to the many injuries and breaks caused by Racing players, in their attempt to waste as much time as possible. Racing had a chance as well, but Ali Halal saved, with the price of an injury (86').
All these struggles led to nothing else, and the match ended with a 1-1 draw that probably displeases both teams.
Bourj FC: Ali Halal - Mohamad El Dor (Tidiane Camara 62'), Mohamad El Husseini (Khodor Hallak 62'), Shadi Skaf, Mohamad Zein Tahan - Mohamad El Faour, Prosper Donkor (Ali Chaito 46') - Houssem Louati, Bilal Sabbagh (Mohamad El Sibaii "Wartan" 88'), Ali Kassas (Ali Merkabaoui 46') - Hilal El Helwe. Managaer: Hussein Tahan.
Racing: Ali Hajj Hassan - Jihab Abu Al Anein (Migal Karam 83'), Hassan Bitar, Jad Noureddine, Mostafa El Shamaa (Hussein Khalifa 71'), Yan Hermes Mokumba, Hussein Ezz Al Din (Hussein Saleh 71'), Hussein Haidar, Ali Ayoub, Lazar Arsić (Ali Imad Al Moussawi 90'+3'), Mohandiki Brill. Manager: Vladimir Vujović.
Referee: Ali Al Ashkar.
Yellow cards: Houssem Louati 40', Bilal Sabbagh 75' - Mostafa El Shamaa 15', Jihad Abu Al Anein 17', Ali Hajj Hassan 76', Hussein Haidar 87'.
Bourj lost the top spot to Nejmeh, which have 9 points (maximum) after three rounds. Bourj FC are second with 7 points, and Al Ahed third with 6 points.
In the next round, Bourj FC will face Nejmeh at Tripoli Municipal Stadium, probably on Sunday afternoon. It will be the derby of the fourth round, between the top two teams in the table.
Unfortunately, right after the end of the match between Bourj and Racing, Bourj FC fans (but also members of the staff and even players) suffered from unjust and unexplained police brutality. Security forces that were present at the stadium have severely beaten some Bourj FC fans, including a former referee. According to those present, the Lebanese army had to intervene to stop the unnecessary beatings, which led to some people hospitalized. Bourj FC issued a press release, condemning the intervention, and requesting for an investigation. It should be noted that Bourj FC were officially the hosts of this game, but, just like all the other games in the regular season so far, the match was played on a neutral ground, and Bourj FC is not linked in any way with the authorities in Jounieh. Moreover, this is a stadium that is typically a home ground for Racing, which were nonetheless "visitors" in this match. It is also noticeable that neither the Lebanese Football Association, nor Bourj FC, have so far presented any images from this match on their websites or social media pages, while Racing only published two images, one with their starting line-up, and another one with Mostafa El Shamaa's celebration (see above). The match was broadcasted on FIFA+, but the transmission ended immediately after the final whistle. The Lebanese FA must have a position in this case.
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