Spectacular win for 1. FK Svidník

1. FK Svidník - MŠK Rimavská Sobota 5-2 (3-1)

Ivanko Macej 3', Grejták 35', Nemtinov 45', Hirka 46', Migaš 75' - Vujošević 37', Iboš 62'.

Sunday, 19 March 2023, 2:30 pm local time (1:30 pm UTC), Mestský futbalový štadión, Svidník, Slovakia, 18th round of the Slovak Third League, East Group.

 1. FK Svidník (in red), MŠK Rimavská Sobota (in black) and the referees before the start of the game. Photo source: capture from the YouTube video of the game

1. FK Svidník badly needed a win on home soil after a rather poor start of the second half of the season, partly saved by a 1-1 draw away at Lučenec last week. The opponents, much better classified MŠK Rimavská Sobota, did not stand a chance in the face of a very offensive and domineering Svidník side.

The game started with an early but one of the most beautiful goals ever seen in Svidník. L'ubomir Ivanko Macej dribbled through the entire opposite defense in a sort of Maradona or Messi style, including the goalkeeper, and scored after a great individual action: 1-0 (3').

For the next 30 minutes, both teams had plenty of goal-scoring opportunities, but missed incredibly, from very good situations. The second Svidník goal came from an unexpected player, centre back Norbert Grejták, who remained in the box after a corner, and, after another cross, placed his shot near the post: 2-0 (35').

This time, the visitors responded very quickly, with a fast-moving attacking action in the centre, which dismantled the Svidník defense, allowing Sebastian Gembický to assist Miladin Vujošević who, all alone with the goalkeeper Ivan Tiurin, scored for 2-1 (37').

Right before the break, the visitors' goalkeeper, Krisztián Gregor, came out from the box to clear, but was imprecise, and the ball reached Yevhenii Nemtinov at the edge of the box, whose powerful and precise shot went to the left of the incoming goalkeeper, who was too far to be able to save: 3-1 (45').

The second half started perfectly for the home side, which scored again. Marián Sabolčík launched Yevhenii Nemtinov, who, in his turn, passed in between the opposite defenders, on the left side of the box, to Kristián Hirka, who found the back of the net with a left-footed shot: 4-1 (46').

MŠK Rimavská Sobotá responded with a beautiful free kick execution from the edge of the box, by means of Dominik Iboš, to the upper right corner of the goal: 4-2 (62').

The last goal of the game came after an action on the right side by L'ubomir Ivank Macej, and continued by Marián Migaš, who finished with a blasting shot to the far post: 5-2 (75').

There were many other spectacular actions which contributed to the attractiveness of this game, one of the most spectacular matches that have been seen recently in Svidník. The good news for the Svdiník supporters is that their side seems to be in great form, and good results are expected to come. However, this might be difficult next week, when they will face MFK Vranov nad Topl'ou at home. MŠK Rimavská Sobota, on the other hand, while defeated, showed some very good attacking skills, but had some issues in defense. They are still in fifth place and will face TJ Tatran Oravské Veselé at home the next week.

Svidník: Tiurin - Migaš, Grejták, Magul'ak, Hatok - Sabolčík, Hirka, Ivanecký - Nemtinov (Ducár 88'), Tokar (Klučár 84'), Ivanko Macej (Makara 79'). Manager: Vladislav Palša.

Rimavská Sobota: Gregor - Oluwaseun Japhet, Juhász, Petrán, Krištof, Koós (Langa 58'), Halabrín (L. Lupták 81'), Oláh (E. Lupták 58'), Iboš, Gembický, Vujošević. Manager: Eugen Bari.

Referee: Radoslav Bobko.

Yellow cards: Grejták 49' - Iboš 39', Oluwaseun Japhet 87'.

Full results, table and fixtures:

 

Round 18 (18-19 March 2023)

 

MFK Slovan Giraltovce – MFK Vranov nad Topľou 1-1

Partizán Bardejov BŠK – FK Poprad 2-1

MŠK Námestovo – MFK Snina 2-3

FK Spišská Nová Ves – TJ Baník Kalinovo 0-2

Slávia TU Košice – MŠK Tesla Stropkov 2-0

TJ Tatran Oravské Veselé – MŠK Novohrad Lučenec 2-0

FTC Fiľakovo – ŠK Odeva Lipany 1-1

1. FK Svidník – MŠK Rimavská Sobota 5-2

 

Table

 

1	FK Spišská Nová Ves	18	13	3	2	41-14	42	Promotion to 2. Liga
2	ŠK Odeva Lipany	18	13	3	2	38-16	42
3	MFK Vranov nad Topl’ou	18	10	5	3	43-18	35
4	Partizán Bardejov BŠK	18	9	5	4	36-23	32
5	MŠK Rimavská Sobota	18	9	3	6	36-33	30
6	MFK Snina	18	8	4	6	34-27	28
7	Slávia TU Košice	18	8	3	7	28-24	27
8	TJ Tatran Oravské Veselé	18	8	3	7	29-24	27
9	MŠK Tesla Stropkov	18	8	2	8	28-25	26
10	TJ Baník Kalinovo	18	4	7	7	23-36	19
11	1. FK Svidník	18	4	6	8	21-26	18
12	MŠK Námestovo	18	4	5	9	16-27	17
13	MŠK Novohrad Lučenec	18	3	8	7	12-24	17
14	FK Poprad	18	4	3	11	16-33	15
15	MFK Slovan Giraltovce	18	3	4	11	11-40	13	Relegation to 4. Liga
16	FTC Fiľakovo	18	3	2	13	19-41	11	Relegation to 4. Liga

 

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 19 (25-26 March 2023)

 

MŠK Námestovo – FTC Fiľakovo

MŠK Novohrad Lučenec – ŠK Odeva Lipany

MFK Slovan Giraltovce – MŠK Tesla Stropkov

FK Poprad – Slávia TU Košice

1. FK Svidník – MFK Vranov nad Topľou

MFK Snina – FK Spišská Nová Ves

TJ Baník Kalinovo – Partizán Bardejov BŠK

MŠK Rimavská Sobota – TJ Tatran Oravské Veselé

 

Bourj qualify for the Lebanese FA Cup semifinals and announce roster for Arab Club Champions Cup

Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley - Bourj FC 1-2 (1-0)

Ali Haidar 38' - Shadi Skaf 52', Dennis Tetteh 77'.

Friday, 17 March 2023, 2:15 pm local time (12:15 pm UTC), Al Ahed Stadium, Bourj El Barajneh (Ouzai), Lebanon, quarter-finals of the Lebanese FA Cup.

 Bourj FC starting XI. Photo source: elmaestrosport.com

Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley starting XI. Photo source: elmaestrosport.com

The 2022-2023 Lebanese Premier League is over, but the season continues for some Lebanese teams, those qualified in the Lebanese FA Cup quarter-finals. Bourj FC faced Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley at Al Ahed Stadium, a neutral ground in theory, but actually located in Bourj El Barajneh, Bourj FC home town.

Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley have just been relegated from the Premier League, while Bourj FC lost the Dahieh derby to Shabab Sahel in the last match of the league season, so both teams were looking to heal their recent wounds in this Cup game.

Bourj FC dominated most of the game, as expected, but Al Akhaa Al Ahly Aley gave a good reply, especially in the first half. They even succeeded to take the lead on a counterattack: Jamil Ibrahim had an excellent run on the right side, passed to Ali Haidar who, unmarked in the box, found the back of the net: 1-0 (38').

Bourj FC attacked quite often with high crosses inside the box. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page

In the second half, Bourj FC came back into the game quite early. Mahmoud Kawar, who just came in at the break as a sub, executed a free kick from the right side, and Shadi Skaf headed from short range: 1-1 (52').

Shadi Skaf (in yellow, #3) equalized for Bourj FC at the beginning of the second half. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page

Bourj FC continued to put pressure on the opposite goal, and eventually took the lead. After a long action on the right side, the same Mahmoud Kawar crossed for Dennis Tetteh, who headed to the left of the goalkeeper, close to the near post: 1-2 (77').

In the final minutes, Mohamad Sadek had another goal opportunity and attempted a bicycle kick, but missed the target.

Mohamad Sadek attempted a bicycle kick and almost succeeded to score. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page

Al Akhaa Al Ahly: Rabih Saleh - Saeed Fayad (Hamza Abboud 62'), Mohamad Al Moussawi, Carlos Lomba, Youssef Atriss, Ali Hakim, Ali Al-Akbar Manna (Ryan Abi Shaheen 74'), Sari Shehayeb, Jamil Ibrahim, Ibrahim Abou Hamdan (Álex Chico 62'), Ali Haidar. Manager: Daniel Giménez.

Bourj: Hassan Moghnieh - Youssef Anbar (Mohamad Nasseredine 70'), Richard Baffour, Khodor Hallak, Shadi Skaf - Hussein Ibrahim "Saaouk" (Mohamad Sibaii "Wartan" 46') - Ali Merkabaoui (Mohamad El Dor 70'), Dennis Tetteh, Khaled Takaji, Mohamad Sadek - Hussein Al Outa (Mahmoud Kawar 46'). Manager: Hussein Tahan.

Referee: Mohamad Haddad.

Yellow cards: Sari Shehayeb, Mohamad Al Moussawi and Carlos Lomba.

Bourj FC qualified for the third consecutive year to the Lebanese FA Cup semifinals, where they will likely face Nejmeh. In the previous two years, they failed to qualify for the final, and one should remember that the last Cup final played by Bourj, and also the only one, in 1993, was actually won by the team in yellow-and-black.

For the moment, the only other team qualified for the semis is Shabab Sahel, which won 3-0 over Al Ahly Nabatieh, also on Friday. They will meet the winner between Al Ahed and Shabab Al Ghazieh. This match, the same as the one between Nejmeh and Safa, will be played only in April.

Bourj FC prepare the two matches against Al Wahda in the Arab Club Champions Club. They succeeded to get eight new players (mostly on loan) from other Lebanese teams and announced the roster of 30 players, out of which only 23 will eventually remain.

Goalkeepers

1 Abdelkarim Saleh

13 Afif Zreik

22 Antoine Douaihy (from Salam Zgharta)

31 Hadi Mortada (from Tadamon Sour)

50 Hassan Moghnieh

Defenders

2 Mohamad Al Dor

3 Shadi Skaf

4 Khodor Hallak

16 Mohamad Safwan

19 Saad Al Shawiki

21 Mohamad Hammoud

30 Hussein Dakik (from Al Ahed)

55 Mohamad Al Husseini (from Safa)

77 Youssef Anbar

90 Richard Baffour

Midfielders

5 Mohamad Al Faour

6 Hussein Ibrahim "Saaouk"

10 Khaled Takaji

11 Ali Chaito

12 Mohamad Sibaii "Wartan"

20 Bilal Al Sabbagh (from Al Ahed)

23 Emmanuel Obere (from Al Ahed)

80 Mensah Konate (from Hikma / Sagesse)

Forwards

7 Hussein Al Outa

8 Mohamad Sadek

9 Ali Merkabaoui

14 Mohamad Nasseredine

17 Dennis Tetteh

45 Boucounta Sarr (from Hikma / Sagesse)

70 Mahmoud Kawar

Four of these players have been called for the Lebanon national team: Mohamad Sadek, Ali Merkabaoui, Antoine Douaihy and Mohamad Al Husseini, and therefore they will miss many of the Bourj FC training sessions before their departure to the United Arab Emirates, where they will play both matches against Al Wahda on 4 April and 8 April 2023.