Hussein Tahan sacked, Malek Hassoun is the new manager of Bourj FC

On Saturday, 24 February, Ansar thrashed Bourj by 4-0 and this harsh defeat had consequences for Bourj FC manager, Hussein Tahan. This was a second consecutive defeat by a large score, after a 3-0 loss to Al Ahed in the previous round, and the club management decided that this is too much, so Hussein Tahan was sacked. Today, the club official social media pages stated that the club is thanking Hussein Tahan for everything he has done and wishes him all the best in the future.

A few hours later, Malek Hassoun was announced as the new manager, along with a photo of him signing the contract, sitting near sporting director Abbas Ali Atwi ”Onika”.

Malek Hassoun (left), the new Bourj FC manager. Photo source: Bourj FC Facebook page

Malek Hassoun was the manager of Tadamon Sour until this week-end, leading them to a 2-1 win over Hikma / La Sagesse yesterday, so the move is rather surprising. One can only guess that there more to this sudden change than the clubs would slip to the press.

Hussein Tahan was Bourj FC manager for more than a year, as he was appointed in January 2023, when Osama Al Sakr was sacked for the same reason: poor results in the play-offs. Bourj FC finished the 2023 play-off in fifth position with Hussein Tahan, not an improvement after Osama Al Sakr left. However, the results were better in the 2023-2024 regular season, which saw Bourj FC finishing in third place. Pretty much the same as last year, Bourj FC started poorly the play-offs, but they also had the toughest opponents in the first three games: Nejmeh, Al Ahed, and Ansar. They grabbed a point with Nejmeh, but they lost neatly both to Al Ahed and Ansar. This was, in theory, the reason to sack Hussein Tahan.

In my opinion, there might be other (unseen) reasons behind this decision, which is otherwise too harsh for a manager who has basically done his job. In the current context, given the roster they have, one cannot ask any Bourj FC manager to do better against the three Lebanese giants, Nejmeh, Al Ahed, and Ansar. Of course, with some tactical intelligence and some luck, one can get a point or even three, in certain circumstances, but in most cases Bourj FC does not stand a chance, regardless the manager. The two upcoming matches, against Racing and Safa, would have been different, because Bourj FC could definitely get some points out of these. But it is now too late for Hussein Tahan; the new manager will have to lead Bourj FC in those matches, and it is not going to be easy, because this is equally a chance for both Racing and Safa to improve their tally. So, Bourj FC dropped from third to fifth place in the play-off table, but they will have to fight for the fourth place at best realistically speaking.

The new manager, Malek Hassoun, is 48 years old, played for Shabab Al Ghazieh and for Ansar as a midfielder, and he has 12 appearances and 2 goals for the Lebanon national team. He became an assistant manager at Ansar in 2009, and since then he managed many teams, including Ansar (as full manager in 2013-2014), Shabab Al Ghazieh, Shabab Sahel, Shabab Al Arabi, Shabab El Bourj, Al Ahly Saida, Safa, and most recently Tadamon Sour (between 2022 and 25 February 2024).

He will have the difficult mission to manage Bourj FC in the current Lebanese League play-off.

Tersana already promoted, Fayoum consolidate their second place

Egypt Stars - Fayoum SC 0-1 (0-0)

Karim Rashid 60'

Friday, 16 February 2024, 2:30 pm local time (12:30 pm UTC), Egypt Stars Stadium, Al Wasta, Beni Suef Governorate, Egypt, the 14th round of the Egyptian Second Division B, Group B.

Fayoum SC obtained a much-fought narrow win away at Egypt Stars, their main rivals for taking the second place in Group B. The only goal of the game was scored by Karim Rashid, 15 minutes after the start of the second half.

Nevertheless, Fayoum lost any chance to the first place, because Tersana won easily at home and therefore maintain the 10-point gap between them and the second place Fayoum. With three games remaining for both teams, this gap is now impossible to recover.

As such, Tersana are already promoted to the Second Division and will be involved in the play-offs for the Egyptian Premier League, along with the other group winners and the third place in the Second Division.

Full results, table and fixtures:

 

Round 14 (16 February 2024)

 

Beni Mazar – Telephonat 0-1

Tamya – Maghagha 1-1

Egypt Stars – Fayoum 0-1

Tersana – Al Wasta 4-0

El Minya bye

 

Table

 

1	Tersana	13	10	3	0	29-4	33	Promotion to the Second Division
2	Fayoum	13	5	8	0	12-5	23
3	El Minya	12	5	4	3	16-13	19
4	Egypt Stars	12	5	3	4	17-7	18
5	Tamya	12	4	3	5	13-21	15
6	Telephonat	12	4	1	7	14-21	13
7	Beni Mazar	13	2	4	7	14-22	10
8	Al Wasta	12	1	6	5	11-19	9
9	Maghagha	13	1	6	6	8-20	9	Relegation to the Third Division

 

In case that two or more teams are equal on points, the goal difference is the main ranking criterion.

 

Round 15 (23 February 2024)

 

Telephonat – Tersana

Maghagha – El Minya

Fayoum – Tamya

Al Wasta – Egypt Stars

Beni Mazar bye

 

Late stoppage time goal gave Cusco FC the win in local derby

Cusco FC - Deportivo Garcilaso 1-0 (0-0)

R. Fernández 90'+8'

Saturday, 17 February 2024, 6 pm local time (11 pm UTC), Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium, Cusco, Peru, 4th round of Apertura, Peruvian First Division (Liga 1).

Cusco FC starting line-up. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page

Deportivo Garcilaso starting line-up. Photo source: Liga de Fútbol Profesional Facebook page

The first of six Cusco local derbies to be played this year (three in Apertura and three in Clausura) took place on Saturday evening at the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium, the home ground for all three Cusco teams (Cusco FC and Deportivo Garcilaso, as well as Cienciano). The match was very dramatic and had almost everything in it, but the decisive goal came very late, in stoppage time, despite the fact that Deportivo Garcilaso played in nine men in the last 20 minutes or more, if one includes stoppage time as well.

Carlos Beltrán (Deportivo Garcilaso, in blue, right), here in a dispute with Miguel Aucca (Cusco FC), made a crucial error at the start of the game which led to a red card for goalkeeper Diego Penny. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page

The game had just begun, when a long ball, apparently going nowhere, was ignored by Carlos Beltrán, but chased by Lucas Colitto, who arrived before the goalkeeper Diego Penny and tried to pass the ball over him. The Garcilaso goalkeeper stopped the ball with his hands, more or less on the edge of the box (1'). VAR came in, and eventually the referee decided that the intervention was outside the box, therefore Diego Penny was sent off (7'). The game resumed after Chicaiza was replaced by goalkeeper Vargas (9'). Almost nothing was played in the first 10 minutes, but Deportivo Garcilaso remained in ten right from the beginning.

It is interesting to note that Cusco FC did not take full advantage of the situation, at least not in the first half. They tried to play their usual passing game, but rarely reached the opposite box dangerously, because the "visitors" defended well. The biggest opportunities therefore came surprisingly from the Garcilaso side, who had some good shots, by Gentile (12'), saved by Vidal, Cuero (21'), slightly wide, Canales (29') and D. Ramírez (42'), over the cross-bar.

Clearly, Cusco FC manager Miguel Rondelli realized that he has to improve in the attack, so at half time he changed defensive midfielder Miguel Aucca (who had a yellow card as well), with central forward Luis Ramos. The game changed in favour of Cusco FC, and the man up began to be visible. A perfect cross from José Zevallos on the right was headed in by Luis Ramos (48'). After seven minutes of waiting for a VAR decision, the referee eventually had a look himself, and decided that goal must be cancelled, because another Cusco FC player, Juan Manuel Tévez, was in an offside position, and interfered with a defender who wanted to play the ball. A decision truely at the limit of the rules, since both Tévez and the defender in question were passed over by the cross.

The game continued nevertheless, with Cusco FC more offensive than in the first half, and Deportivo Garcilaso still dangerous on counterattack. In their last big chance of the game, Canales had a good run on the right, crossed perfectly to Gentile, who missed the target from close range (63'). Cusco FC had an opportunity as well, Luis Ramos assisting Nicolás Silva on the right, but Vargas saved the shot (68').

Cusco FC were already pushing for more, when Deportivo Garcilaso remained in nine. Argentinian striker Pablo Erustes, who already had a yellow card, received a second yellow card for hitting Oswaldo Valenzuela in the face with his foot (70'). He was therefore sent off.

In the next action, Cusco FC scored again, and the goal was cancelled again. Iván Colman launched Lucas Colitto in the box on the left, who passed to unmarked Juan Manuel Tévez in the centre, who scored in the empty net (72'). Nonetheless, VAR disagreed, on the same basis as in the case of the first Cusco FC cancelled goal: Luis Ramos was in offside position and interfered with the play, by obstructing a defender.

Alan Pérez (Cusco FC) and Gaspar Gentile (Deportivo Garcilaso) chasing the ball. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page

Deportivo Garcilaso gave up all offensive intentions, and their only remaining striker in the field, Gaspar Gentile, was replaced (80'). Miguel Rondelli responded by sending in more offensive players, such as Rely Fernández (81') and André Vásquez (90'+2'). Specifically, these two players brought Cusco FC the much desired win. Deportivo Garcilaso defended with everything in the final minutes and in stoppage time, but they missed to mark Rely Fernández once. André Vásquez took a free kick from the left side and crossed to the far post, where unmarked Rely Fernández headed the ball in: 1-0 (90'+8').

Rely Fernández, unmarked, scored the only goal of the game, defeating goalkeeper Miguel Ángel Vargas with a powerful header. Photo source: Cusco FC Facebook page

The match was pretty much over, because Deportivo Garcilaso had no stamina to build up any attack, while Cusco FC were preocuppied mostly with maintaining possession to avoid any risks.

There is one more thing to remark: the fact that the referee should have given more stoppage time both in the first half and in the second. In the first half, the 6 added minutes did not cover not even the 7 minutes lost with the VAR check on the red card for Diego Penny. In the second half, there were 7 minutes lost with the first VAR check on Luis Ramos' cancelled goal, and another 5 minutes lost with the VAR check on the second cancelled goal for Cusco FC, so at least 12 minutes in total, not counting the substitutions and other time wasting by Deportivo Garcilaso players. The referee awarded only 12 minutes of stoppage time. In these 12 minutes there were two substitutions made by Cusco FC, and a goal (which was celebrated for about a minute, if not more), but the referee ended the game after 12 minutes and about 30 seconds. Apart from the fact that it is not normal for the game to be stopped for so long, the referee should have counted better the minutes in which it was stopped.

Cusco FC won once again the Garcilaso derby when they played at "home", and the celebrations continued long after the final whistle. On the other side, Deportivo Garcilaso are last in the table without any points so far.

Cusco FC: Vidal - Zevallos (Vásquez 90'+2'), R. Ramírez (Bilbao 90'+11'), A. Pérez, Tamariz - Aucca (L. Ramos 46'), Valenzuela - N. Silva (R. Fernández 81'), Colman, Colitto - Tévez. Manager: Miguel Rondelli.

Deportivo Garcilaso: Penny - Canales, Beltrán, Lojas, A. Gómez - C. Diez, D. Ramírez (Salazar 66') - Cuero (É. Ramírez 46'), Chicaiza (Vargas 9'), Gentile (E. Gonzales 80') - Erustes. Manager: Diego Cuvi.

Referee: Jonathan Zamora.

Yellow cards: Aucca 39', Vásquez 90'+4' - Erustes 45'+2', 70', Canales 90'+6', E. Gonzales 90'+10'.

Red cards: Penny 7', Erustes 70' (for a second yellow card), D. Ramírez 77' - already on the bench, and the goalkeeper coach of Deportivo Garcilaso (90'+7') for inappropriate protests.

Full results, table and fixtures:

 

Round 4 (15-19 February 2024)

 

Sporting Cristal – Los Chankas 4-1

Alianza Atlético – UTC Cajamarca 2-0

ADT Tarma – Carlos A. Mannucci 4-0

Cusco FC – Deportivo Garcilaso 1-0

Universitario de Deportes – FBC Melgar 2-0

Unión Comercio – Alianza Lima 1-3

Cienciano – Sport Boys 3-2

Universidad César Vallejo – Sport Huancayo 1-1

Comerciantes Unidos – Atlético Grau to be played on 19 February

 

Apertura table

 

1	Universitario de Deportes	4	4	0	0	8-0	12	Qualified for the play-offs
2	Sporting Cristal	4	3	1	0	15-6	10
3	Sport Huancayo	4	3	1	0	6-1	10
4	Alianza Lima	4	3	0	1	7-3	9
5	Cienciano	4	2	2	0	7-5	8
6	UTC Cajamarca	4	2	1	1	6-3	7
7	Cusco FC	4	2	1	1	5-5	7
8	Comerciantes Unidos	3	2	0	1	6-4	6
9	Los Chankas	4	2	0	2	7-8	6
10	Atlético Grau	3	1	1	1	2-2	4
11	Alianza Atlético	4	1	1	2	3-4	4
12	ADT Tarma	4	1	1	2	7-9	4
13	Universidad César Vallejo	4	1	1	2	5-9	4
14	Sport Boys	4	1	0	3	5-7	3
15	FBC Melgar	4	1	0	3	5-8	3
16	Unión Comercio	4	0	1	3	4-8	1
17	Carlos A. Mannucci	4	0	1	3	3-13	1
18	Deportivo Garcilaso	4	0	0	4	0-6	0

 

Rules for classification (except for first place): 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) drawing of lots.

A play-off is needed to decide the winner if two or more teams are tied on points on top of the table at the end of the tournament.

 

Round 5 (23-26 February 2024)

 

Sport Huancayo – Alianza Atlético

UTC Cajamarca – Universitario de Deportes

Sport Boys – Cusco FC

FBC Melgar – Unión Comercio

Carlos A. Mannucci – Sporting Cristal

Atlético Grau – ADT Tarma

Alianza Lima – Comerciantes Unidos

Deportivo Garcilaso – Universidad César Vallejo

Los Chankas – Cienciano