Title hopes over for Bourj after the first defeat of the season

Ansar - Bourj 3-0 (1-0)

Fayez Chamsine 33', Ahmad Hijazi 74', Mohamad Hebous 90'+1'.

Sunday, 3 April 2022, 3:30 pm local time (12:30 pm UTC), Saida International Stadium, Sidon / Saida, Lebanon, the 4th round of the championship play-off.

In order to keep their title hopes alive, Bourj FC needed to win against Ansar, and at the same time they needed Shabab Sahel to succeed at least a draw against Al Ahed. Neither of these conditions applied. Bourj FC lost the first match of the entire season when they mostly needed to win, and the score, 3-0, was harsher than the reality in the field.

The two team captains, Hassan Chaitou "Shabriko" (Ansar, in green) and Abbas Ali Atwi "Onika" (Bourj, in yellow), and the referees, before the start of the game. Source: Ansar Facebook page

In fact, Bourj FC dominated quite clearly the first 30 minutes of the game, and had a very powerful offensive run in the beginning, missing good opportunities in the first quarter of an hour by Abou Baker Al Mel (twice) and Hussein Al Outa. They also took advantage of the fact that Ansar did not count on some very important players, such as Hassan Maatouk and Karim Darwich.

Nevertheless, those who substitute them made an excellent game, and Ansar took the lead out of nothing. A corner from the right side was taken by Nader Matar, and Fayez Chamsine headed at will from inside the box: 1-0 (33'). Bourj FC took the blow fully and could not recover before the end of the half. Therefore Ansar could have doubled their advantage, but Ali Tneich "Al Sisi"'s shot went slightly wide (41').

The second half started very much the same as the first one, with Bourj FC quick to take control of the game and to gain offensive positions in the field. Bourj FC pressed hard for an equalizer, which did not come, despite several good chances. Their biggest chance came after a corner, when the ball reached Khodor Hallak unmarked in the box, he had time even to control the ball, to prepare the shot, but it went however wide (71').

Just a few minutes after, Ansar stroke again. They recovered a loose ball in the opposite field, combined fast and Ahmad Hijazi (in a position which was, in my opinion, suspicious for offside), all alone with the goalkeeper, had an easy job to send the ball to the back of the net: 2-0 (74').

Bourj FC goalkeeper, Hassan Moghnieh, watches as the ball sent by Ahmad Hijazi (who is not in the photo) goes into the net for 2-0. Source: Ansar Facebook page

In stoppage time, sub Mohamad Hebous intercepted another careless pass in the Bourj defense, advanced in the box, dribbled and had a good shot: 3-0 (90'+1').

Ansar: Nazih Assaad - Nassar Nassar, Ichaka Diarra, Khaled Ali, Hassan Chaitou "Shabriko", Jihad Ayoub, Nader Matar (Youssef Al Haj 82'), Ali Tneich "Al Sisi", Ahmad Hijazi (Omar Bahlawan 90'), Majed Osman (Mohamad Hebous 75'), Fayez Chamsine (Khaled Mohssen 82'). Manager: Abdullah Abu Zema.

Bourj: Hassan Moghnieh - Mohamad El Dor (Youssef Anbar 64', Ibrahim Abou Hamdan 77'), Khodor Hallak, Hassan Bitar, Shadi Skaf - Mohamad Al Faour, Youssef Atriss (Mohamad Kassem 64') - Abou Baker Al Mel, Abbas Ali Atwi "Onika" (Akram Moghrabi 77'), Hussein Al Outa (Mohamad Sadek 64') - Bersyl Obassi. Manager: Fouad Hijazi.

Referee: Mohammad Issa.

Yellow cards: Ahmad Hijazi 24' - Youssef Anbar 67'.

In the other decisive match for the title, Al Ahed crushed Shabab Sahel 4-1 and are now 7 points ahead of Bourj FC.

Full results, tables and fixtures:

Play-off

Round 4 (1-3 April 2022)

 

Tadamon Sour – Shabab El Bourj 2-0

Ansar – Bourj 3-0

Al Ahed – Shabab Sahel 4-1

 

Table

 

1	Al Ahed	15	12	3	0	29-4	39
2	Bourj	15	9	5	1	19-9	32
3	Ansar	15	7	4	4	27-11	25
4	Shabab Sahel	15	7	2	6	25-26	23
5	Tadamon Sour	15	4	5	6	14-14	17
6	Shabab El Bourj	15	4	2	9	16-27	14

 

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 (8-9 April 2022)

 

Shabab Sahel – Tadamon Sour

Ansar – Shabab El Bourj

Ahed – Bourj

 

Play-out

Round 4 (1-3 April 2022)

 

AC Tripoli – Hikma / Sagesse 0-1

AC Sporting – Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley 0-1

Nejmeh – Safa 1-2

 

Table

 

7	AC Tripoli	15	7	2	6	18-17	23
8	Nejmeh	15	6	6	3	20-11	18	[1]
9	Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley	15	4	3	8	10-17	15
10	Hikma / Sagesse	15	4	2	9	8-26	14
11	Safa	15	3	4	8	7-21	13
12	AC Sporting	15	3	2	10	11-21	11

 

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 (10-19 April 2022)

 

AC Tripoli – Nejmeh

Hikma / Sagesse – AC Sporting

Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley – Safa

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[1] Nejmeh were deducted 6 points for not attending the game against Al Ahed in round 9.