Bourj FC - Al Ahed 0-1 (0-0)
Lee Erwin 61'
Friday, 5 April 2024, 3 pm local time (12 noon UTC), Fouad Chehab Stadium, Jounieh, Lebanon, 7th round of the championship play-off, Lebanese Premier League.
Bourj FC starting line-up. Photo source: Bourj FC Facebook page
Al Ahed starting line-up. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
Al Ahed needed a win in this match to stay as close as possible to leaders Ansar in a very tight battle for the title, while Bourj FC are in fifth place, far away from any battle, but without any good result in the play-off which has now reached its eigth matchday. Obviously, Al Ahed was the team that tried to control the game and attacked more, ever since the start of the game, but Bourj at least provided a good defensive strategy, which worked for the first hour.
Al Ahed (with goalscorer Lee Erwin at the ball, chased by Saad Al Shawiki) attacked more but Bourj defended well. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
Bourj FC goalkeeper Abdelkarim Saleh had a difficult mission, and saved many shots on goal, some of them from close range, succeeding to keep a clean sheet in the first half. The biggest goalscoring opportunity of the first half belonged nonetheless to Bourj FC. Bilal Sabbagh provided a great pass through to Ali Kassas, who remained one on one with Mostafa Matar, but was eventually denied by the Al Ahed goalkeeper.
Bilal Sabbagh (Bourj FC, right, chasing Mohamad Al Marmour) contributed to the biggest Bourj FC chance in the first half. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
The second half started with Al Ahed pushing more seriously for the goal, and they had several good opportunities, while Bourj FC tried desperately to defend. Lee Erwin was at the end of most Al Ahed actions, and he finally scored, rather luckily, after a less clear action. The ball was crossed from the right, and reached the left side, where Hussein Dakik controlled and had a strong shot, which was deflected by Lee Erwin into the back of the net: 1-0 (61').
Bourj FC goalkeeper Abdelkarim Saleh was eventually beaten by a shot luckily deflected by Lee Erwin. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
Bourj FC tried to give an immediate reply, and a cross from the left side by Houssem Louati was headed by Tidiane Camara from close range, but Mostafa Matar saved (65'). Both teams made several changes, in an attempt to secure the win (for Al Ahed) or to restore the draw (for Bourj), and Al Ahed proved more successful, because Bourj FC did not have any other important opportunities. Moreover, Al Ahed could have increased their lead and even scored (82'), but the goal was eventually cancelled for offside.
Lee Erwin (in blue, here in a tough battle for the ball with Bilal Sabbagh, watched from the ground by an injured Shadi Skaf) was the hero for Al Ahed in this game. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
Al Ahed met their target, winning the match and closing the gap to Ansar in the lead, while Bourj, despite a better match, lose another play-off game and are farther away from the top four.
Bourj: Abdelkarim Saleh - Mohamad Zein Tahan (Ali Chaito 72'), Saad Al Shawiki, Mohamad Al Husseini, Shadi Skaf - Prosper Donkor (Ali Siblini 72'), Bilal Sabbagh (Mohamad El Faour 79') - Ali Markabawi (Ali Rahal 79'), Houssem Louati, Ali Kassas (Mohamad Al Sibaii "Wartan" 63') - Tidiane Camara. Manager: Malek Hassoun.
Al Ahed: Mostafa Matar - Khalil Khamis, Hussein Zein, George Felix Melki, Hussein Dakik (Diaa Al Mohammad 70'), Walid Shour, Ali Al Haj (Mohamad Al Hallak 79'), Mohamad Haidar, Mohamad Al Marmour (Mahmoud Zbib 70'), Lee Erwin, Karim Darwich. Manager: Raafat Mohammad.
Referee: Mohamad Issa.
Yellow cards: Bilal Sabbagh 10', Tidiane Camara 34', Saad Al Shawiki 90'+4' - George Felix Melki 90' + 3'.
Full results, table and fixtures:
Round 7 (4-6 April 2024)
Nejmeh – Safa 2-1
Bourj – Al Ahed 0-1
Racing – Ansar 1-1
Table
|
1 |
Ansar |
7 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
37-18 |
27 |
|
|
2 |
Al Ahed |
7 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
39-10 |
26 |
|
|
3 |
Nejmeh |
7 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
31-16 |
25 |
|
|
4 |
Safa |
7 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
30-24 |
22 |
(+) |
|
5 |
Bourj |
7 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
18-23 |
13 |
(+) |
|
6 |
Racing |
7 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
24-31 |
10 |
(+) |
(+) Points have been rounded up.
Round 8 (13-14 April 2024)
Racing – Nejmeh
Bourj – Ansar
Al Ahed – Safa postponed
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