Racing Club Beirut - Bourj FC 1-2 (0-2)
Jimmy Kazan 75' - Ali Kassas 7', Mohamad Saleh 36'.
Thursday, 20 June 2024, 4 pm local time (1 pm UTC), Safa Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon, 14th round of the championship play-off, Lebanese Premier League.
Bourj FC starting line-up. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
Racing starting line-up. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
While almost all other leagues ended by now, the Lebanese Premier League is not yet over. It should have been over by more than a month, but all sorts of problems came up and matches had to be postponed, and therefore this is the longest season in the history of Lebanese football, as it will take about 11 months (almost one year) to complete, because it started on 4 August 2023 and the league will end on 30 June 2024. However, the season will not be over, because cup matches will be played in July. So, really, almost one year. For a country which is strongly challenged by many political, economic and other issues, this is way too much. The clubs had even bigger problems, because many players' contracts expired at the end of May, when everybody thought the season would be over. Only three clubs (Ansar, Nejmeh and Safa) were able to extend the contracts for June and (perhaps) July for all their players, mainly because they are still racing for the title this year (Ansar and Nejmeh) or because they can afford it (Safa). It is not the case for Bourj or Racing, which remained only with about half of their roster for the remaining rounds in the league and for the cup semifinals (Bourj only).
Even more, Bourj FC changed their manager as well. Former manager Malek Hassoun left after the contract expired, at the end of May, and former assistant manager, Ahmed Atwi, took over the team for the remaining matches. His mission is a difficult one, because many important players left as well. The four foreigners (Tidiane Camara, Prosper Donkor, Houssem Louati and Ahmad Al Saleh) and many Lebanese players (goalkeeper Ali Halal, defenders Shadi Skaf and Mohamad Al Husseini, midfielder Hussein Ibrahim, forwards Abou Baker Al Mel and Hilal El Helwe) are among those who left, so basically Ahmed Atwi relies only on the few remaining players and several youngsters. The situation for Racing is rather similar, but at least they kept their manager, Vladimir Vujović.
Ahmed Atwi, the new Bourj FC manager. Photo source: Bourj FC Facebook page
With such a diminshed roster, Bourj FC were certainly an easy prey for title contenders Ansar, to which they lost 3-0 in the 13th round, but the match against Racing looked completely different. Bourj FC started very well, and were able to take the lead very early in the game. Bilal Sabbagh tackled successfully an opponent and sent a pass to Ali Kassas, whose shot from the edge of the box hit the target: 1-0 (7').
Mohamad El Faour (Bourj FC) and Hussein Haidar (Racing) fight for the ball, Ali Chaito and Ali Kassas are behind them. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
The goal did not change the game, which continued the same way, with Bourj FC attacking more, keeping the ball posession, controlling the midfield and overall. The very forwards Ali Kassas, Ali Markabawi and Mohamad Saleh charged continuously, pressing for a second goal, while Bilal Sabbagh, Mohamad El Faour and Ali Chaito supported them very well from the midfield, launching many useful passes. Racing seemed unable to respond properly and rarely had the chance to attack.
Eventually Bourj FC doubled their advantage. Ali Chaito found a perfect vertical pass to Mohamad Saleh, inserted in between the Racing centre backs, and Saleh took the opportunity, dribbling the goalkeeper as well and sending the ball into an empty net: 2-0 (36').
Mohamad Saleh (Bourj FC), chased by Joseph Aoun (Racing), scored the second goal. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
The first half ended with Bourj FC 2-0 in front, a consistent advantage which looked impossible to turn, giving the manner in which the game was played in the first 45 minutes.
However, Racing made a couple of changes at half-time, and the game changed in the second half, rather unexpectedly. Racing became more involved, fought hard for every hard, and they succeeded to balance the game, and even to create important chances.
Bilal Sabbagh (Bourj FC) and Joseph Aoun (Racing) jump for the ball, assisted by Ali Chaito and Ali Markabawi. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
Racing eventually succeeded to score. Immediately after the water break (much needed, given the hot summer conditions in which the match was played), a throw led the ball to Jimmy Kazan, whose shot to the far post from the egde of the box was impossible to save: 2-1 (75').
Maygen Raad (left) congratulate Jimmy Kazan (right) for scoring the only goal for Racing. Photo source: Racing Cluib Beirut Facebook page
At 2-1, anything could happen, so Bourj FC took the game more seriously, trying to recover the lost ground and to score another goal. The game opened up, because Racing also risked everything in trying to equalize. They had a couple of chances, several set pieces, including a free kick from the edge of the box, a few corners, but were unable to equalize. Bourj FC received a penalty after Ali Kassas was tackled in the bix by Hassan Bitar, and Khodor Hallak was about to take it, but VAR cancelled the penalty for a previous foul on a Racing player in the centre of the field, which was not initially considered by the referee, and which led to the action that ended in a penalty (90').
Bourj FC players congratulate each other for their first win over Racing this season. Photo source: elmaestrosport.com
This was the first Bourj FC win over Racing this season, after three draws in their previous head-to-head games, either in the regular season or in the play-off. Despite the fact that many players are no longer in the available roster, Bourj FC still looks good, and a bright future lies ahead, taking into consideration the excellent young players who are still part of the roster. This has to be taken into account by the future club president, whoever that will be, given that the current president and owner Fadi Nasser announced his retirement from this position.
Racing: Hassan Ayoub - Hilal Warid (Maygen Raad 46'), Hassan Bitar, Hussein Saleh, Andrew Azzi (Miguel Karam 46'), Joseph Aoun, Jehad Abou El Aynein, Hussein Haidar, Ali Imad Moussawi (Jimmy Kazan 14'), Mohamad Kdouh (Mohamad Chreim 80'), Daniel Abou Fakher (Hussein Jawad Khalife 46'). Manager: Vladimir Vujović.
Bourj: Hassan Hazimeh - Mohamad El Dor, Saad Chweiki, Khodor Hallak, Ali Siblini (Youssef Anbar 70') - Bilal Sabbagh (Mohamad Sibaii "Wartan" 62'), Mohamad El Faour, Ali Chaito (Ali El Haddad 88') - Mohamad Saleh (Ibrahim Hammoudi 70'), Ali Kassas, Ali Markabawi. Manager: Ahmed Atwi.
Referee: Maher Al Ali.
Yellow cards: Hussein Haidar, Maygen Raad - Ali Siblini, Ali Chaito.
In the last round of the league, Bourj FC will face Safa on Monday, 24 June, a match which decides the fourth place. Bourj FC needs a win to climb on the fourth place, while Safa will keep the fourth place in case they win or draw.
The decisive match for the title will be played on Sunday 30 June between Ansar and Nejmeh. Ansar need a win or a draw, Nejmeh can only win the title if they win.
Full results, table and fixtures:
Round 14 (20 June 2024)
Ansar – Safa 4-1
Nejmeh – Al Ahed 1-0
Racing – Bourj 1-2
Table
|
1 |
Ansar |
14 |
11 |
2 |
1 |
54-22 |
45 |
|
|
2 |
Nejmeh |
14 |
9 |
2 |
3 |
42-19 |
43 |
|
|
3 |
Al Ahed |
14 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
50-21 |
33 |
|
|
4 |
Safa |
14 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
35-38 |
25 |
(+) |
|
5 |
Bourj |
14 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
26-32 |
24 |
(+) |
|
6 |
Racing |
14 |
0 |
4 |
10 |
28-46 |
12 |
(+) |
(+) Points have been rounded up.
Round 15 (24-30 June 2024)
Racing – Al Ahed
Bourj – Safa
Nejmeh – Ansar
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