Sunday, 11 April 2021, 3.30 pm local time (12.30 pm UTC), Fouad Chehab Stadium, Jounieh (neutral ground), Lebanon, the 4th (penultimate) round of the play-out stage, Lebanese Premier League.
Bourj FC starting XI against Shabab El Bourj. Source: Bourj FC Facebook page
The derby of Bourj-el-Barajneh, one of Beirut's southern suburbs, raises a lot of interest whenever it is played, even without an audience. However, not without an honorable purpose: the winner would have been almost 100% sure of the top spot at the end of the play-out stage. Not much, but a compensation reward for two teams which struggled in vain to get a place in the top six, but remained in the bottom half of the table.
The match was much more interesting than what we have seen from the two teams lately, especially from Bourj FC, which seemed less interested in the other results, but put up a good fight in this game. They actually controlled the first part of the match and scored quite early: Zein Al Abidin Farran performed one of his runs on the right, his shot hit the far post, and the ball came back exactly in the feet of Fadel Antar, in the right place at the right time: 1-0 (21'). Slowly, Shabab El Bourj took over the control of the game, while Bourj changed tactics, grouping themselves better in the defense and charging on counterattacks, especially on the wings, where Zein Farran and Mohamed Nasser proved to be excellent runners. Bourj defense did a lot of hard work in stopping the opponents' attacks. However, the biggest goal chance belonged to Mohamad El Faour (Bourj FC), one on one with the goalkeeper, but his shot was saved (44').
Fadel Antar scored in the empty net for Bourj FC. Source: elmaestrosport.com
In the second half, the pressure of Shabab El Bourj intensified, and Bourj FC lost completely the control of the game in the midfield. However, the long balls meant for the three attackers could have resulted in goals. First, Fadel Antar succeeded to rob the ball from a defender, passed to Zain Farran in the center, but his shot was deflected wide (51'). Then, Mohamad Nasser had an excellent run on the left, but he missed (64'). In the meantime, Shabab El Bourj had several goal opportunities, including a huge chance, when three players missed the ball right in front of the goal, after a cross from the right side (58').
Shabab El Bourj took control of the game in the second half, and Bourj FC midfielders (Ibrahim Abou Hamdan and Mohamad El Faour - falling - in this image) had problems in stopping them. Source: elmaestrosport.com
The long series of attacks by Shabab El Bourj eventually paid off, and Adnan Melhem equalized from inside the box after a cross from the right by Mohamad Sibaii: 1-1 (72').
Shabab El Bourj players celebrated after they equalized. Source: elmaestrosport.com
In the remaining minutes, Bourj FC tried to get back in the game, and succeeded to have a number of dangerous attacks. However, the biggest chances belonged to Shabab El Bourj, but goalkeeper Abdel Karim Saleh saved miraculously twice: first a long range shot by Mohamad Sibaii, which was going in the upper right corner (79') and then a one-on-one situation with Adnan Melhem (81').
Bourj FC: Abdel Karim Saleh - Hamza Abboud, Khodor Hallak, Ahmad Al Khatib, Walid Ismail - Mohamad El Faour, Mohamad Kassem (Hussein Al Outa 82'), Ibrahim Abou Hamdan (Hussein Ibrahim 72') - Zein Al Abidin Farran, Fadel Antar, Mohamad Nasser. Manager: Fouad Hijazi.
Shabab El Bourj: Omar Edlebi - Saad Youssef, Bilal Nasrallah, Hassan Hazime, Yasser Achour - Mehdi Abou Mohsen, Mohamad Sibaii, Salim Hamadeh (Ahmad Obeid 85'), Hussein Awada - Ali Hammoud, Adnan Melhem. Manager: Youssef Al Jawhari.
Referee: Basem Shahoud.
Yellow cards: Saad Youssef 26', Ahmad Obeid 87'.
The final result largely reflects the reality in the field. Both teams had the chance to win this game and to claim the top spot of the play-out stage. This draw postpones the decision for the final round, when Shabab El Bourj will have an easier mission, as they will face the last classified Salam Zgharta, while Bourj will play against AC Tripoli, a team which also has a theoretical chance for the top position. However, Bourj FC have the advantage of the head-to-head matches in case of a tie, because they won 1-0 over Shabab El Bourj in the regular stage.
The other matches solved the most important issue of the play-out stage: relegation. While Salam Zgharta were already relegated, the second team to be relegated was determined today: Shabab Al-Ghazieh will join Salam Zgharta in the Second Division the next year, despite their win, because Tadamon Sour also won over AC Tripoli and preserved their 5-point gap, which cannot be overcome in just one match. Therefore, their match in the final round will be only for honor and statistics.
In the play-off stage (top six), Nejmeh and Ansar continue their head-to-head dispute for the title. Shabab Sahel lost to Al Ahed and are mathematically out of this battle.
Results, tables and fixtures:
Play-off
Round 3 (10 April 2021)
Ansar – Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley 2-0
Safa – Nejmeh 0-3
Al Ahed – Shabab Sahel 2-1
Table
|
1 |
Nejmeh |
14 |
10 |
4 |
0 |
30-8 |
34 |
Qualification for the AFC Ch. League |
|
2 |
Ansar |
14 |
11 |
1 |
2 |
33-7 |
34 |
Qualification for the AFC Cup |
|
3 |
Shabab Sahel |
14 |
8 |
3 |
3 |
15-8 |
27 |
|
|
4 |
Al Ahed |
14 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
15-13 |
20 |
|
|
5 |
Safa |
14 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
20-22 |
20 |
|
|
6 |
Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley |
14 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
8-10 |
19 |
|
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 4 (18 April 2021)
Ansar – Shabab Sahel
Safa – Al Ahed
Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley – Nejmeh
Round 5 (24 April 2021)
Ansar – Nejmeh
Shabab Sahel – Safa
Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley – Al Ahed
Play-out
Round 4 (11 April 2021)
Tadamon Sour – AC Tripoli 1-0
Shabab Al-Ghazieh – Salam Zgharta 3-0
Bourj – Shabab El Bourj 1-1
Table
|
7 |
Bourj |
15 |
4 |
8 |
3 |
17-13 |
20 |
|
|
8 |
Shabab El Bourj |
15 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
18-14 |
20 |
|
|
9 |
AC Tripoli |
15 |
5 |
4 |
6 |
11-14 |
19 |
|
|
10 |
Tadamon Sour |
15 |
3 |
6 |
6 |
6-10 |
15 |
|
|
11 |
Shabab Al-Ghazieh |
15 |
3 |
1 |
11 |
11-25 |
10 |
Relegation to the Second Division |
|
12 |
Salam Zgharta |
15 |
0 |
1 |
14 |
6-46 |
1 |
Relegation to the Second Division |
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 5 (17 April 2021)
Tadamon Sour – Shabab Al-Ghazieh
Bourj – AC Tripoli
Shabab El Bourj – Salam Zgharta
No comments:
Post a Comment