Fifth consecutive draw for Bourj FC, 0-0 to Safa

Safa - Bourj FC 0-0

Saturday, 20 November 2021, 2:15 pm local time (12:15 pm UTC), Amin Abdelnour Stadium, Bhamdoun (Aley), Lebanon, 6th round of the Lebanese Premier League.

On an unusually cold and rainy day, and a swampy pitch, Bourj and Safa could not score and the match ended 0-0. This is the fifth consecutive draw for Bourj FC, which managed to stay unbeaten this season, but they have not yet secured a place in the top 6 to get into the play-off round, and all these draws might keep them further away from the leaders. Safa, on the other hand, are in an even more uncomfortable position in the bottom half of the table.

 Bourj FC players and staff honoured the memory of Ramez Ammar, club secretary, who passed away. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page

It is interesting to note that many usual Bourj starting players have not featured in this game from the beginning (or not at all), including defenders Mohamad El Dor and Khodor Hallak, midfielders Abbas Atwi "Onika" and Ali Kharoubi, or forwards Abou Baker Al Mel and Hussein Al Outa. This "experimental" Bourj team suffered quite a lot in certain moments of the game, especially at the beginning of each half, when Safa clearly dominated and the match was played almost entirely in Bourj half.

In the first half, however, Safa did not have any chances, despite their attacking pressure, which faded away after 20 minutes or so. Bourj FC responded on the counterattack and after a few loose shots, the first shots to be on target belonged to Ibrahim Abou Hamdan (31') and Hassan Mehanna (43'), the latter being the best opportunity before the break.

The second half started again with Safa in attack, and this time they had a good opportunity: from a set piece, on the left side, the ball reached Mohamed Shour, all alone in the centre of the box, but he missed the target (55'). The same as in the first half, Bourj FC regained control of the match, and started to create chances towards the end of the match. Hassan Mehanna and Hussein Ghanem escaped towards the opposite goal but failed to convert their chances. However, the biggest goal opportunity belonged to Safa, in stoppage time. Hassan Hazima had a great run on the left and crossed perfectly, but his teammate missed from the 6 yard box, right in front of the goal, a position from which it is easier to score than to miss (90'+5').

Safa: Talal Dandashli - Mohamed Shour, Hassan Hazima, Mohamed Zein Tahan, Ahmed Jalloul, Moussa Al Taweel, Haider Khreis (Ali Belhas 90'+4'), Mohamed Nasir El-Din (Mohamed Al Mohammed 77'), Hussein Sharaf El-Din, Rony Azar (Hikmat Moghnieh 89'), Ali Hammoud.

Bourj: Hassan Moghnieh - Ibrahim Abou Hamdan (Ali Kharoubi 88'), Ahmed Al Khatib, Hassan Bitar, Youssef Anbar - Mohamad Al Faour (Youssef Atriss 60'), Hussein Ibrahim "Saaouk", Mohamad Kassem (Abbas Ali Atwi "Onika" 60') - Samih Damaj (Hussein Al Outa 72'), Akram Moghrabi (Hussein Ghanem 72'), Hassan Mehanna. Manager: Fouad Hijazi.

Referee: Samer Al-Sayed Kassem.

Yellow cards: Rony Azar 37', Ahmed Jalloul 80' - Hussein Ibrahim "Saaouk" 42'.

The Lebanese Premier League takes another large break, for one month, and will resume only a few days before Christmas, on 21 and 22 December, when Bourj will play away at AC Tripoli, while Safa will play away at Hikma / La Sagesse.

Fayoum SC advanced to the next round of the Egypt Cup after dramatic match away at Beni Suef SC

Beni Suef SC - Fayoum SC 0-0 (2-3 at penalties)

Tuesday, 16 November 2021, 2 pm local time (12 noon UTC), Beni Suef Stadium, Beni Suef, Egypt, 2nd preliminary round of the Egypt Cup.

The first match for both teams in the Egypt Cup was a dramatic one. Beni Suef attacked more and had many chances, but Fayoum goalkeeper, Islam Emad Risha, made an extraordinary match. Among other things, he also saved two penalty kicks during the match, the first one executed by Ibrahim Saeed at the beginning of the game (8') and the second one at the end, in stoppage time (90'+2'), executed by Hossam Issa. Beni Suef were simply unable to beat the Fayoum defense and goalkeeper. Fayoum made a good game overall, and they became increasingly dangerous in the second half, especially on the breaks.

Islam Emad Risha, Fayoum SC goalkeeper and captain, hero of the match at Beni Suef

The match had to be decided at penalties, where players of both teams seemed unprepared. Only two out of the first five players scored for each team before the standard series of five penalties finished with an overall score of 2-2. Islam Emad Risha, the Fayoum goalkeeper, saved two penalties, while another one went wide, and only two went in; Beni Suef goalkeeper had a similar performance. The sixth penalty for Fayoum SC was transformed by Salah El-Din Rifaat, while the Beni Suef player sent the ball into the side bar, triggering the celebration for Fayoum SC which therefore won by 3-2 at penalties and qualified for the third preliminary round of the Egypt Cup, where they will face Telephonat Beni Suef the next week, also away. In the meantime, they will have a very difficult league match away at El Minya. It is the second consecutive success for the new Fayoum manager, Sayed Sobhi, since he took charge of the team a week ago.

Beni Suef: Mohamed Hassanein - Mahrous Mahmoud, Mohamed Awad, Ahmed Saad, Mohamed El-Shamy (Abdel Wahed Abdel Aziz), Ibrahim Said, Mohamed Abdel-Sattar (Hossam Issa), Essam Abdeen (Shaaban Sayed), Anin Mido (Ahmed El Gabalawy), Ahmed Abdel-Baqi (Osama Marei), Mahmoud Abdel-Aty.

Fayoum: Islam Emad Risha - Emad Hassan (Hossam Hassan), Mahmoud Kamal "Schmeichel", Islam El-Sayed, Ali El-Din Sakhr (Ahmed Mohamed), Mustafa Sal, Martimo, Salah El-Din Refaat, El-Sayed Mahmoud (Ahmed Saleh), Mahmoud Abd Elsalam "Gresha" (Mohamed Adel), Alaa El-Din Metwally.

Referee: Nader Qamar Al Dawla.

Yellow cards: Mahmoud Abdel-Aty, Amin Mido - Alaa El-Din Metwally.

Fayoum SC snatch last-gasp win under new manager

Fayoum SC - Sohag 1-0 (0-0)

Alaa Al-Din Metwally 90'+5'.

Saturday, 13 November 2021, 2:30 pm local time (12:30 pm UTC), Alassiouty Sports Resort, Fayoum, Egypt, the 7th round of the Egyptian Second Division, Group A.

This week has been tense at Fayoum SC. Ramadan Ragab announced that he would give up his position as manager due to the financial problems the club is facing, with salaries said not to be paid on time. Staff and players are discontent with the club, but the club management had to find a quick replacement for the position of manager. Evenetually, Sayed Sobhi was brought in, just two days before the game. Sayed Sobhi is known as Saad Farouk's former collaborator but he really had no time to properly prepare the game against Sohag.

The match itself was very balanced. Surprisingly, the visitors had more control of the midfield and more ball possession. Their attacks were constant, but not so dangerous, also because of the good Fayoum defense throughout the game. The biggest chances belonged to the home side, which struggled more on the counterattack, but also created danger out of set pieces.

Fayoum SC starting XI in a previous game. Source: Fayoum SC Facebook page

Right at the start, after a free kick from the left side, Mohamad Adel cross was headed by Ahmed Saber Mansheya, and Ahmed Moati Mohamed was blocked in the 6-yard box by the goalkeeper. Then, the biggest opportunity of the first half came when Hamad Hassan's long ball reached Mohamad Adel in the box, but his shot went slightly wide (18').

The second half was pretty much similar to the first, in that Sohag had the ball more, but Fayoum was more dangerous on the breaks. Mostafa Sal's header was saved by the Sohag goalkeeper (50'), and the same goalkeeper had to defend a very dangerous and trichy ball from a free kick executed by Mohamad Adel (60').

Both teams made a number of substitutions in the last 30 minutes, but Fayoum subs paid off. Mahmoud "Gresha" was one of those who came in for Fayoum and had a decisive role in the last part of the game, distributing very useful balls to the forwards. The home side looked more and more determined to win the game as the minutes passed by, and possession was no longer left to the visitors, as Fayoum were running out of time. The most beautiful action of the whole match came in stoppage time. Mahmoud "Gresha" dribbled in the midfield and launched Mostafa Sal on the right, who changed the direction and therefore succeeded to overcome his opponent, and passed to Alaa Al-Din Metwally in the box, one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but the goalkeeper blocked the ball (90'+4').

The corner kick resulting out of this was the last action of the game. Ali Abo Elela executed the corner from the left side towards the near post, and Alaa Al-Din Metwally was in the right place at the right time, and had the right header, finally beating the goalkeeper and the opposite defenders: 1-0 (90'+5').

Fayoum: Islam Emad Risha - Ali Abo Elela, Ahmed Saber Mansheya, Hamad Hassan Al-Hanbali, Mohamad Adel - El Sayed Lotfy, Hossam Hassan (Mahmoud "Gresha" 61') - Mostafa Sal, Salah Rifaat, Ahmed Saleh (Sayed Kanaria 70') - Ahmed Moati Mohamed (Alaa Al-Din Metwally 86'). Manager: Sayed Sobhi.

Sohag: Bahaa Saber - Mohamed Sabry, Sherif Hafez, Karim Yaad, Mohamed Tharwat - Ayman Reda, Muhammad Farag, Moamen Mohsen, Muhammad Imad - Mustafa Yousry "Trézéguet", Muhammad Badawy. Manager: Ahmed Khalaf Ali.

Referee: Mohamed Al-Shenawi.

Yellow cards (all in the second half): Mohamad Adel, Hamad Hassan Al-Hanbali - Trézéguet.

Full results, table and fixtures:

 

Round 7 (12-13 November 2021)

 

Tamya – Aswan 0-1

Beni Suef – Qena 2-2

Aluminium – Media 2-0

Asyut Petroleum – Telephonat 2-1

Naser Mallawi – El Badari 1-0

Fayoum – Sohag 1-0

KIMA Aswan – Al Madina Al Monawara 2-1

Dayrout – El Minya postponed

 

Table

 

1	Aswan	7	6	0	1	10-4	18	Promotion to the Premier League
2	KIMA Aswan	7	4	3	0	13-9	15
3	El Minya	5	4	1	0	10-2	13
4	Asyut Petroleum	7	3	3	1	11-4	12
5	Aluminium	7	3	3	1	11-6	12
6	Tamya	6	3	0	3	7-6	9
7	Fayoum	7	2	3	2	6-8	9
8	Naser Mallawi	7	2	2	3	7-9	8
9	Beni Suef	6	1	4	1	9-9	7
10	El Badari	6	2	1	3	5-11	7
11	Sohag	6	1	3	2	5-6	6
12	Dayrout	5	1	2	2	3-4	5
13	Qena	6	1	2	3	6-10	5	Relegation to the Third Division
14	Media	7	1	1	5	3-10	4	Relegation to the Third Division
15	Al Madina Al Monawara	6	0	3	3	6-9	3	Relegation to the Third Division
16	Telephonat	7	0	3	4	3-8	3	Relegation to the Third Division

 

In case that two or more teams are equal on points, the main ranking criteria are the results of the head-to-head matches.

 

Round 8 (20 November 2021)

 

Aswan – Beni Suef

Telephonat – Naser Mallawi

Sohag – Aluminium

El Minya – Fayoum

Media – KIMA Aswan

El Badari – Dayrout

Al Madina Al Monawara – Tamya

Qena – Asyut Petroleum

The Dahieh derby ended goalless: Shabab Sahel - Bourj FC 0-0

Shabab Sahel - Bourj FC 0-0

Saturday, 6 November 2021, 4:45 pm local time (2:45 pm UTC), Fouad Chehab Stadium, Jounieh, Lebanon, 5th round of the Lebanese Premier League.

Bourj FC had a tough start of the season, playing in the first five matches with all the giants of the Lebanese football, Ansar, Al Ahed, Nejmeh, and now against leaders Shabab Sahel, but they are still unbeaten so far, which is quite a performance!

Bourj FC starting line-up against Shabab Sahel. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page

On the other hand, Shabab Sahel needed a win to stay on top of the league, but they were unable to score, and in the end they could be happy with a draw, given the big chances Bourj FC had in the second half. The absence of manager Mahmoud Hammoud (who is sick with COVID-19) also had an impact on the players and the game of Shabab Sahel.

Photo source: elmaestrosport.com

Overall, the game was quite balanced, and the two teams divided the periods when they dominated the game. However, neither was capable of scoring goals, so the 0-0 draw is quite justified.

In the first half, both teams struggled hard, especially in midfield. The only chance belonged to Hussein Jawad Khalifeh (35'), whose strong shot was saved by Bourj goalkeeper, Hassan Moghnieh (who made his debut for Bourj in an official game). In the last action of the first half, Abbas Assi was tackled by Abbas Atwi "Onika" in the corner of the box, but the referee did not consider it a foul and the penalty was not awarded for Shabab Sahel (45'+2').

In the second half, Bourj FC were much closer to score a goal and probably to win, the way the match looked, because the first team to score would have probably won. The tension increased, the goal opportunities emerged also more frequently. Abou Baker Al Mel created several chances from the right side. First, his perfect cross was headed by Akram Moghrabi from close range, but Ali Daher saved with an amazing reflex (61'). Then, after a similar cross, Hussein Al Outa's header went wide (79'). The only clear chance for Shabab Sahel came immediately afterwards: Abbas Assi penetrated into the opposite and sent a cross right in front of the goal, but former Bourj striker, Fadel Antar, did not reach the ball (81'). However, the biggest opportunity of the entire game was missed by Bourj FC. Abou Baker Al Mel succeeded once again to get into the box on the right, and instead of passing to Hussein Al Outa, all alone in the 6 yards box, he preferred to surprise the goalkeeper and shoot to the near post, but Ali Daher had another decisive save (86').

Shabab Sahel: Ali Daher - Mohammad Hassan Hammoud, Abbas Assi, Mostafa Kassab, Ali Abboud, Walid Shour, Georgio Khoury, Mohammad Haidar, Hussein Jawad Khalifeh (Ali Fahes 80'), Mohammad Jaafar (Ali Fadel 90'+2'), Fadel Antar. Manager: Mahmoud Alameh.

Bourj FC: Hassan Moghnieh - Mohammad El Dor, Khodor Hallak, Hassan Abdallah Bitar, Youssef Anbar - Hussein Ibrahim "Saaouk", Ali Kharoubi (Mohammad Kassem 85') - Abou Baker Al Mel, Abbas Atwi "Onika" (Mohammad El Faour 85'), Hussein Al Outa - Akram Moghrabi (Ali Merkabaoui 85'). Manager: Fouad Hijazi.

Referee: Mohammad Issa.

One thing to notice is that no yellow (nor red) cards were given in a traditionally tense match. The Lebanese Premier League will take another break due to the matches of the Lebanese national team. After the break, two weeks from now, Bourj will meet Safa, while Shabab Sahel will face the newly-promoted Hikma / Sagesse.

Full results, table and fixtures:

Round 5 (6 November 2021)

 

Hikma / Sagesse – Nejmeh 0-2

Tadamon Sour – Ansar 2-2

AC Sporting – Al Ahed 0-2

AC Tripoli – Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley 2-1

Shabab El Bourj – Safa 1-1

Shabab Sahel – Bourj 0-0

 

Table

 

1	Al Ahed	5	4	1	0	9-2	13
2	Shabab Sahel	5	3	2	0	11-2	11
3	Nejmeh	5	2	3	0	9-2	9
4	Ansar	5	2	2	1	7-3	8
5	Bourj	5	1	4	0	5-4	7
6	AC Tripoli	5	2	1	2	5-7	7
7	Tadamon Sour	5	1	3	1	7-5	6
8	Hikma / Sagesse	5	2	0	3	4-9	6
9	Safa	5	1	2	2	3-8	5
10	Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley	5	1	1	3	3-6	4
11	Shabab El Bourj	5	0	2	3	2-9	2
12	AC Sporting	5	0	1	4	2-10	1

 

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 6 (19-21 November 2021)

 

Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley – Tadamon Sour

AC Tripoli – Shabab El Bourj

Safa – Bourj

Nejmeh – AC Sporting

Shabab Sahel – Hikma / Sagesse

Ansar – Al Ahed