A penalty for each and not much beyond that

Safa - Bourj 1-1 (1-0)

Jordi Bruijn 42' penalty - Hilal El Helwe 53' penalty.

Friday, 10 November 2023, 4 pm local time (1 pm UTC), Fouad Chehab Stadium, Jounieh, Lebanon, the 9th round of the Lebanese Premier League.

Bourj starting line-up. Photo source: Lebanon FA Facebook page

Safa starting line-up. Photo source: Lebanon FA Facebook page

The two teams approached this game mainly interested in not losing it, rather than winning it, resulting in a pretty boring performance from both teams. Bourj tried more offensively, but rarely reached the opposite box, while Safa played more cautiously, initiating counterattacks whenever possible.

The match was balanced, both teams trying to control the midfield. Shadi Skaf (Bourj FC captain, right, in yellow and black) carelessly tackled Jordi Bruijn in the box, providing Safa with an unexpected penalty. Photo source: Lebanon FA Facebook page

Despite Bourj FC efforts, and some of their chances, missed by Tidiane Camara or Ali Kassas, it was Safa which broke the deadlock, out of nothing. Dutch player Jordi Bruijn cleverly forced his entry into the opposite box, on the left side, and Shadi Skaf tackled him carelessly (40'). The referee awarded a penalty for Safa, and the same Jordi Bruijn converted: 1-0 (42').

Jordi Bruijn (left, in blue) scored the goal for Safa from a penalty caused by Shadi Skaf (right). Photo source: Lebanon FA Facebook page

It was the only time of the game when Bourj really left aside all defensive precautions and launched a total charge on the opposite defense, especially after the start of the second half. They had a few chances, and even claimed two penalties (not awarded by the referee), but eventually the third claim was given, as Ali Kassas was fouled in the box by Hussein Sharafeddine (who also received a yellow card). Hilal El Helwe took the responsibility, as usual, and converted the penalty: 1-1 (53').

Bourj players congratulate Hilal El Helwe (most to the right) for converting the penalty. Photo source: Lebanon FA Facebook page

From this moment, the two teams resumed the game they had played when it was 0-0, fighting to control the game in the midfield, and launching some timid attacks. Once again, Bourj FC seemed to be more interested in taking the lead, and Hilal El Helwe had some spectacular shots in consecutive actions (73' and 74'), not reaching the target.

Tidiane Camara (Bourj FC, left) was many times blocked by his opponents, in this case by Habib Shweikh (Safa, in blue). Photo source: Lebanon FA Facebook page

Safa's actions became more dangerous after Mohamad Nasser and Khaled Takaji (former Bourj player) were subbed in (71'). Khaled Takaji, especially, created some chances for Safa, but Bourj defense was well prepared.

In the end, both teams looked settled with the draw, and are looking forward to participating in the play-off. With two games in hand before the end of the regular season, Bourj FC are already classified, while Safa need to win the remaining matches to be sure of their place in the top six.

Safa: Hadi Mortada - Johann Kappelhof, Hassann Chaito "Shibriko", Hussein Sharafeddine, Andrew Sawaya, Mohamad Chour, Kasim Hayek (Mohamad Nasser 71'), Habib Shweikh, Jordi Bruijn (Khaled Takaji 71'), Arnold Suew (Ahmed Hegazy 80'), Mohamad Kdouh. Manager: Bassem Marmar.

Bourj: Ali Halal - Mohamad Zein Tahan (Mohamad El Dor 66'), Ahmed Saleh, Shadi Skaf, Mohamad Al Hayek - Mohamad Al Husseini (Mohamad Al Sibaii "Wartan" 83'), Prosper Donkor - Ali Kassas (Ali Merkabawi 66'), Houssem Louati, Tidiane Camara - Hilal El Helwe (Mohamad El Faour 87'). Manager: Hussein Tahan.

Referee: Mohamad Issa.

Yellow cards: Kasim Hayek 4', Hussein Sharafeddine 52', Mohamad Chour 64', Hassan Chaito "Shibriko" 74' - Prosper Donkor 83'.

The next round will be played after almost one month, due to the schedule of the Lebanon national team. Bourj will face Al Ahed, while Safa will have a much easier match, against Shabab Al-Ghazieh.

Full results, table and fixtures:

Round 9 (9-12 November 2023)

 

Al Ahed – Tadamon Sour 1-0

Ansar – Shabab Al-Ghazieh 2-0

Safa – Bourj 1-1

Nejmeh – Hikma / Sagesse 2-1

AC Tripoli – Al Ahly Nabatieh 1-0

Racing – Shabab Sahel 1-2

 

Table

 

1	Nejmeh	8	7	1	0	20-5	22	Qualified for the play-off
2	Al Ahed	9	7	1	1	23-6	22	Qualified for the play-off
3	Bourj	9	5	3	1	16-8	18	Qualified for the play-off
4	Ansar	9	4	4	1	13-10	16	Qualified for the play-off
5	Shabab Sahel	9	3	4	2	10-12	13	Qualified for the play-off
6	Safa	9	3	4	2	17-15	13	Qualified for the play-off
7	Racing	9	3	4	2	15-15	13	Qualified for the play-out
8	AC Tripoli	9	1	3	5	8-13	6	Qualified for the play-out
9	Tadamon Sour	9	1	2	6	5-13	5	Qualified for the play-out
10	Al Ahly Nabatieh	8	0	5	3	5-13	5	Qualified for the play-out
11	Shabab Al-Ghazieh	9	1	2	6	5-18	5	Qualified for the play-out
12	Hikma / Sagesse	9	1	1	7	8-17	4	Qualified for the play-out

 

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 10 (7-10 December 2023)

 

Al Ahed – Bourj

Nejmeh – Shabab Sahel

Al Ahly Nabatieh – Hikma / Sagesse

Racing – Ansar

AC Tripoli – Tadamon Sour

Safa – Shabab Al-Ghazieh