Fayoum SC wins 2-1 over Sohag and keeps some hopes for survival in the Egyptian Second Division

Sunday, the 8th of March 2020, 15:00 local time (13:00 UTC), Alassiouty Sports Resort, Fayoum, Egypt, the 17th round of the Egyptian Second Division, Group A.

Both Fayoum and Sohag are involved in the fight to avoid relegation, so the direct match between these two teams was very much expected. The game was especially important for Fayoum, as they are lower classified, and any other result than a win would have meant relegation. Sohag had this chance, to condemn their rivals to relegation, but did not succeed.

Nevertheless, the visitors had most of the goal opportunities in the first half, but did not score. As it often happens in football, the home side was much more efficient, and after a couple of opportunities, they broke the deadlock by means of Amr El Fayoumi, who sent the ball home from close range, after a cross from the left side: 1-0 (41'). Right before the break, on a counterattack, Mohamed Refaat passed to Adham Hassan, who suffered a foul on the left side of the area, and the penalty was transformed by Jaber Jaber: 2-0 (45').

In the second half, Sohag tried hard to come back in the game, but they missed almost all their opportunities, including a shot in the side bar. Only at the very end, a ball sent inside the area eventually ended up in the net, as one of the Fayoum defenders and the goalkeeper misjudged the situation: 2-1 (89').

For Fayoum, this is the first win this year, and they are still far from the survival line. Their next match, away at Al Minya, another direct competitor, is equally decisive. Then, the two remaining home matches, against leaders Beni Suef on the 29th of March and against Media on the 12th of April, will be played at Damo Sports City, the home of Egyptian Premier League side Misr Lel Makkasa.

Sohag are still above that line, but this defeat makes their situation more difficult.

Full results, table and fixtures:

Round 17 (8 March 2020)

Dayrout – Al Minya 2-1

Media – Beni Suef 1-1

Asyut Petroleum – Aluminium 1-0

Fayoum – Sohag 2-1

Telephonat – Shaban Qena 1-1

National Bank – Tahta 2-0

Table

1	Beni Suef	17	10	5	2	23-7	35	Promotion to Premier League
2	National Bank	17	10	5	2	22-9	35
3	Aluminium	17	10	2	5	20-11	32
4	Shaban Qena	17	8	7	2	14-9	31
5	Asyut Petroleum	17	7	3	7	18-21	24
6	Telephonat	17	5	8	4	17-16	23
7	Sohag	17	6	4	7	15-14	22
8	Al Minya	17	5	4	8	16-17	19	Relegation to the Third Division
9	Media	17	4	7	6	18-24	19	Relegation to the Third Division
10	Fayoum	17	5	3	9	14-17	18	Relegation to the Third Division
11	Dayrout	17	3	2	12	15-31	11	Relegation to the Third Division
12	Tahta	17	2	4	11	10-26	10	Relegation to the Third Division

Round 18 (15 March 2020)

Sohag – Telephonat

Aluminium – Tahta

Shaban Qena – National Bank

Asyut Petroleum – Media

Al Minya – Fayoum

Dayrout – Beni Suef