Safa keep close to the leading group, Bourj disappointing

Bourj FC - Safa 0-2 (0-0)

Talović 78', Mohamad Nasser 90'+1'

Friday, 8 March 2024, 2:15 pm local time (12:15 pm UTC), Fouad Chehab Stadium, Jounieh, Lebanon, 5th round of the championship play-off, Lebanese Premier League.

Bourj FC starting line-up. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page

Safa starting line-up. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page

The last match of the first half of the championship play-off, played right before the start of the Ramadan, was a big disappointment for Bourj FC, while it confirmed that Safa are indeed fighting for the top of the table this year. 

Bourj FC manager, Malek Hassoun (in the background, in red) is not pleased with the way four of his players are trying to stop one opponent. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page

Although they have a new manager, Malek Hassoun, Bourj FC have not improved their game. Even more, in my humble opinion, they actually got worse. However, in the first half, Bourj FC seemed better than Safa: they had more possession, they attacked more, they had more goalscoring opportunities, and overall it looked like a match they could win. Safa merely defended and rarely came out of their own half, creating very few offensive actions. 

Houssem Louati (with the ball) was once again one of the best players for Bourj FC, but his contribution was not enough. In this photo he is pursued by Mohamad Kdouh (Safa). Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page

In the second half, the game changed completely. Bourj tried to maintain possession, but Safa changed their tactics, playing more offensively and reaching quite easily to the opposite box. In two occasions (59' and 68'), Safa were very close to take the lead, missing important chances, especially due to the saves made by Ali Halal, Bourj FC goalkeeper.

The third time was lucky and taking advantage of a bad clearance from the part of Bourj FC defense, Danin Talović infiltrated into the opposite box and scored from close range: 0-1 (78').

Danin Talović celebrated his goal by taking his shirt off. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page

Bourj FC were supposed to give a reply, and to try to equalize, but their response was rather weak. In fact, the changes made by the new manager, Malek Hassoun, brought nothing in terms of offensive play and reduced their defensive strength. Four out of five players who came in as subs for Bourj FC were very young and inexperienced at this level. In these conditions, Safa were more than ready to increase their advantage, and their second goal came in stoppage time: Andrew Sawaya assisted Mohamad Nasser at the edge of the box, and his precise shot went to the far post: 0-2 (90'+1').

Mohamad Nasser (second from the left) celebrated his goal together with his teammates and perhaps he overdid it. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page

Some players do not celebrate too much when they score against their former teams, as a sign of respect for that team and their supporters. It was not the case for Mohamad Nasser, former Bourj FC player, who celebrated the goal as if it was the most important achievement of his career, and also had something more to say to Bourj FC fans and perhaps their management. This certainly raised the tension in the stands and also in the field, but the referee did not show him a yellow card.

However, Houssem Louati felt that he deserves some sort of punishment, and he commited an intentional foul on Mohamad Nasser in the last minute of stoppage time (90'+4'). While the foul was not harsh, and Louati only got a yellow card for it, the gesture ignited the field, leading to a fight between several players, among which ironically the two goalkeepers, Ali Halal (Bourj FC) and Mehdi Khalil (Safa), who were both sent off (90'+6'). The match ended soon after.

Bourj starting line-up: Ali Halal - Mohamad El Dor, Khodor Hallak, Mohamad El Housseini, Mohamad Zein Tahan - Mohamad Sibaii "Wartan", Bilal Sabbagh - Hassan Chaito "Moni", Houssem Louati, Tidiane Camara - Hilal El Helwe. Subs who came in during the second half: Saad Shweiki, Mohamad El Faour, Ali Markabawi, Ali Kassas, Mohamad Saleh. Manager: Malek Hassoun.

Safa: Mehdi Khalil - Johan Kappelhof, Hassan Chaito "Shibriko", Hussein Sharafeddine, Andrew Sawaya, Mahdi Fahs, Habib Shweikh, Arnold Suew, Danin Talović, Adnan Salloum, Mohamad Kdouh. Subs who came in during the second half: goalkeeper Hadi Mortada (90'+6'), and field players Ahmad Hijazi, Khaled Takaji, Mohamad Nasser. Manager: Bassem Marmar.

Referee: Ali Reda.

Red cards: Ali Halal (Bourj FC) and Mehdi Khalil (Safa) - both in 90'+6'.

Full results and table:

Round 5 (7-8 March 2024)

 

Racing – Al Ahed 1-2

Bourj – Safa 0-2

Nejmeh – Ansar 1-2

 

    Table after the first half of play-off

 

1	Al Ahed	5	2	3	0	38-9	23
2	Ansar	5	4	1	0	35-17	23
3	Nejmeh	5	1	2	2	28-15	19
4	Safa	5	3	1	1	27-21	19	(+)
5	Bourj	5	0	2	3	18-21	13	(+)
6	Racing	5	0	1	4	22-28	9	(+)

 

(+) Points have been rounded up.

It is not known when the Lebanese Premier League will resume and the schedule for the second half of the play-off has not been published yet.