Nejmeh - Bourj FC 1-1 (0-0)
Karim Abou Zeid 74' - Youssef Anbar 64'.
Sunday, 5 February 2023, 3 pm local time (1 pm UTC), Fouad Chehab Stadium, Jounieh, Lebanon, 5th round of the championship play-off, Lebanese Premier League.
Bourj FC starting line-up. Photo source: the-lfa.com
Nejmeh starting line-up. Photo source: the-lfa.com
Nejmeh and Bourj FC clashed on Sunday afternoon, on a terrible rainy day. The water stayed on the artificial turf of Fouad Chehab Stadium, and the match was heavily influenced by the rain and the quality of the pitch, at times looking like a water polo game.
The game was played in unusual rainy conditions, on a water-filled pitch. Photo source: the-lfa.com
Given the weather and pitch conditions, the two teams provided an excellent match, due to the great efforts made by the players, out of respect for their supporters, who came in large numbers on both sides despite the weather.
Nejmeh had more control of the game, especially in midfield, and they also attacked more, but Bourj FC defended well, and goalkeeper Abdelkarim Saleh saved many shots. Hassan Hourani missed the biggest chance for Nejmeh, when his shot hit the crossbar (38').
On the other hand, Bourj FC responded mainly on counterattacks, usually launched by Khaled Takaji, mainly together with Mohamad Sadek and Dennis Tetteh. Immediately after the start of the second half, Khaled Takaji had a big opportunity, but the ball hit the side post (46').
Nejmeh (in red) attacked more, but the Bourj FC defenders responded well. Photo source: the-lfa.com
Despite the overall domination and apparent control by Nejmeh, Bourj FC succeeded to take the lead. Ali Merkabaoui intended to get into the box, but did not succeed, so he passed back to Youssef Anbar, who tried his luck, shooting from outside the box, and from the right side. The shot took a slight deflection, touching Abdullah Moughrabi, just enough to trick the goalkeeper: 0-1 (64').
Youssef Anbar (on the right, #77) celebrated the goal together with his teammates and Bourj fans in the stands. Bourj FC changed their outfit at half-time. Photo source: the-lfa.com
Nejmeh responded by launching furious attacks. The game was mostly physical, and Bourj FC players seemed to have a certain superiority in terms of height and strength, especially in defense, where Richard Baffour and Khodor Hallak controlled all the high balls sent into the box. Nejmeh's technical Brazilian forwards were not of much use in this kind of weather, although they did their best.
There were tough battles for the ball in Bourj FC box. Photo source: the-lfa.com
Eventually, Nejmeh equalized after a long ball in the centre of the field, which was missed by Bourj players, allowing Karim Abou Zeid to approach the box and to shoot from just outside of it, very precisely, to the left of Abdelkarim Saleh: 1-1 (74').
In the final minutes of the game, both teams looked pleased with just one point and did not risk any further. The players seemed pretty much exhausted after tremendous battles for the ball, fought especially in midfield.
Nevertheless, the draw did not bring much to any of the teams. Nejmeh are now four points behind the leaders, Ansar, while Bourj are level with Shabab Sahel, fighting for the fourth place, instead of the third.
The fans created a great atmosphere in the stands of Fouad Chehab Stadium.
Fans from both teams encouraged their favorites from the stands despite the bad weather. Photo source: the-lfa.com
Nejmeh: Ali Al Sabeh - Ali Rida Ismail, Kassem El Zein, Ali Hamam, Abdullah Moughrabi - Hassan Kourani (Khalil Bader 65'), Karim Abou Zeid - Matheus de Santana "Farinha" (Mehdi El Zein 65'), Vitor Hugo Freitas "Barata", Ali Alaaedine (Alaa Ezzo 77') - Jefesson Vieira "Jefinho". Manager: Paulo Menezes.
Bourj FC: Abdelkarim Saleh - Youssef Anbar (Mohamad El Dor 78'), Richard Baffour, Khodor Hallak, Shadi Skaf - Hussein Ibrahim "Al Saaouk" (Mohamad Hammoud 88'), Mohamad Sibaii "Wartan" (Ali Chaito 78') - Mahmoud Kawar (Ali Merkabaoui 55'), Khaled Takaji, Mohamad Sadek (Hussein Al Outa 88') - Dennis Tetteh. Manager: Hussein Tahan.
Referee: Ali Reda.
Yellow cards: Mohamad Sibaii "Wartan" 45'+2', Hussein Ibrahim "Al Saaouk" 78'.
Full results, tables and fixtures:
Play-off
Round 5 (4-6 February 2023)
Ansar – Shabab Sahel 3-1
Al Ahed – Shabab Al Ghazieh 2-0
Nejmeh – Bourj 1-1
Table after the first half of the play-off
|
1 |
Ansar |
5 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
38-9 |
25 |
(+) |
|
2 |
Al Ahed |
5 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
29-10 |
23 |
|
|
3 |
Nejmeh |
5 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
23-9 |
21 |
(+) |
|
4 |
Shabab Sahel |
5 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
22-14 |
17 |
(+) |
|
5 |
Bourj |
5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
21-20 |
17 |
(+) |
|
6 |
Shabab Al-Ghazieh |
5 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
13-26 |
6 |
|
(+) Points have been rounded up.
If two or more teams have the same number of points, the teams that had their points rounded up will be classified below those which had their points halved neatly, as the main ranking criterion, followed by the head-to-head results, the goal difference, and the number of goals scored.
Initial classification before the start of the play-off: Ansar 14p, Shabab Sahel 13p, Al Ahed, Nejmeh and Bourj 12p, Shabab Al-Ghazieh 6p.
Round 6 (11-12 February 2023)
Shabab Sahel – Nejmeh
Shabab Al-Ghazieh – Ansar
Al Ahed – Bourj
Play-out
Round 5 (3-4 February 2023)
Hikma / Sagesse – Salam Zgharta 1-2
AC Tripoli – Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley 3-1
Tadamon Sour – Safa 4-1
Table after the first half of play-out
|
7 |
Tadamon Sour |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
23-19 |
17 |
|
|
8 |
AC Tripoli |
5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
13-26 |
16 |
(+) |
|
9 |
Safa |
5 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
13-23 |
11 |
|
|
10 |
Hikma / Sagesse |
5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
13-20 |
11 |
(+) |
|
11 |
Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley |
5 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
13-33 |
7 |
(+) |
|
12 |
Salam Zgharta |
5 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
10-22 |
7 |
(+) |
(+) Points have been rounded up.
If two or more teams have the same number of points, the teams that had their points rounded up will be classified below those which had their points halved neatly, as the main ranking criterion, followed by the head-to-head results, the goal difference, and the number of goals scored.
Initial classification before the start of the play-out: Safa and Tadamon Sour 5p, Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley, Salam Zgharta and Hikma / Sagesse 4p, AC Tripoli 3p.
Round 6 (11 February 2023)
Tadamon Sour – Salam Zgharta
Safa – Hikma / Sagesse
Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley – AC Tripoli
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