Al Ahed - Bourj FC 2-3 (1-1)
Khalil Khamis 20', Mahmoud Zbib 74' - Hassan Chaito "Moni" 15', Hilal El Helwe 68' penalty, Mohamad El Husseini 85'.
Sunday, 26 May 2024, 4 pm local time (1 pm UTC), Amin Abdelnour Stadium, Bhamdoun (Aley), Lebanon, 12th round of championship play-off, Lebanese Premier League.
Bourj FC starting line-up. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
Al Ahed starting line-up. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
For a number of years now, Bourj FC has never succeeded to get a win over Al Ahed. They did so against the other big Lebanese teams, they are the only ones who defeated Ansar this season, twice!, they sometimes had good results against Nejmeh, but never against Al Ahed. The time has come for this to change and for Bourj FC to get their first win over Al Ahed, in a match that sealed Al Ahed's fate this season - one in which they will no longer compete for the title they were defending. For Bourj FC, there is a slim chance to get to the fourth place, but this is not a real objective.
Both teams started the match without several important players, especially the foreigners were absent, for instance Tidiane Camara and Prosper Donkor were not even on the bench for Bourj FC, while Lee Erwin was absent for Al Ahed. The only foreigner in the field for Bourj FC, Houssem Louati, possibly played his last game for this team, as his transfer to Safa seems to be already completed. It is a pity that Bourj FC was unable to keep him, but I guess this is what happens when a player has an excellent season - he got offers from everywhere and it is very difficult to keep.
On the other hand, nobody expected the season to be so long. Most players and even staff had their contracts in force only until the end of May, so the last rounds in June and the final rounds of the Lebanese Cup will probably be played with Lebanese players only - the ones who have longer contracts. This will be the case for most teams in play-off, except perhaps for Ansar and Nejmeh, who are still racing for the title this year.
Karim Darwich (Al Ahed), with the ball, is closely watched by Mohamad El Husseini and Mohamad El Faour (Bourj FC captain). Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
The match started with Bourj FC missing a big opportunity. Ali Kassas overtook Hussein Dakik and remained one on one with the goalkeeper Mostafa Matar, but his shot went straight into the goalkeeper (2'). Al Ahed replied soon and missed a good opportunity themselves, but a header from the middle of the box went wide (5').
However, unlike in other matches, Al Ahed did not take control of the game, and allowed Bourj to develop their combinative play, which eventually paid off. Mohamad Zein Tahan crossed from the right, and Hassan Chaito "Moni" headed to the upper corner of the target: 0-1 (15').
Hassan Chaito "Moni" (#10) scored the first goal and is congratulated by his teammates Bilal Sabbagh (#8) and Ali Kassas (#20). Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
Bourj FC could have even increased their advantage in the following minutes, when Al Ahed defence looked unable to respond, but they failed, and the tables turned almost immediately. Ali Al Haj took a corner from the left, and Khalil Khamis headed from close range to equalize: 1-1 (20').
Khalil Khamis (centre) scored the equalizer for Al Ahed, giving them the opportunity to come back into the game. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
After a very eventful first 20 minutes of the game, the rest of the first half was rather boring. Both teams tried desperately to gain control of the midfield, but none succeeded to get the upper hand, resulting in a fierce battle for control and possession and very few goal chances. Bourj FC had some opportunities by means of "Moni", Houssem Louati and Hilal El Helwe, but Mostafa Matar saved and blocked everything.
Mostafa Matar (Al Ahed goalkeeper), surrounded by defenders, had plenty of saves. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
In the second half, things did not change and Bourj FC began to hope in a good result. At times, Al Ahed took control of the midfield and initiated offensive charges, but these were far from dangerous, and Bourj FC confidence grew minute after minute, especially because Al Ahed showed considerable and unexpected weaknesses in all departments.
Moreover, fresh blood was sent in the field, as Ali Markabawi and Mohamad El Hayek went in (60'). Just a few minutes later, they created the action which gave Bourj FC the lead again: Mohamad El Hayek launched Ali Markabawi on the left, Mostafa Matar was a little late and made contact with Ali Markabawi, resulting in an obvious penalty for Bourj FC (67'). Hilal El Helwe converted to give Bourj the lead once again: 1-2 (68').
Hilal El Helwe (right, #99) scored from a penalty to give Bourj the lead once again. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page
Bourj FC thought again that their lead was safe, but they could not be more wrong about this. Just a few minutes later, Zein Farran had an individual action on the right, getting into Bourj FC box, he assisted Karim Darwich, whose shot was saved by Hassan Hazimeh, but the ball got to Mahmoud Zbib, who managed to score from a difficult angle: 2-2 (74').
Mahmoud Zbib (left) scored the equalizer for Al Ahed. Photo source: Al Ahed FC Facebook page
The final minutes of the match were very disputed, each team trying to force the winning goal. Chances arrived more often, but the defenders and goalkeepers did their job properly. Until they didn't. A long ball from the Bourj FC own half was meant for Mohamad Zein Tahan, interestingly sneaked into Bourj FC attack, and he was able to overrun Khalil Khamis, who had no other choice that to put him down at the edge of the box (80'). Unfortunately, this also led to some creepy moments, with both players injured on the ground. Khalil Khamis was in a more critical state, but he eventually got up, only to be sent off by the referee (84').
Houssem Louati took the free kick, the ball deflected from the wall to Mohamad El Husseini, in the middle of the box, and the defender had the necessary cold blood to score and to bring the win to Bourj FC: 2-3 (85').
Bourj FC players and staff celebrating with the supporters. Photo source: Bourj FC Facebook page
In the last minutes, Bourj FC struggled to maintain possession, as far away as possible from their own box. Al Ahed, in ten, were not capable to come back this time and to equalize for a third time, losing for the first time in history to Bourj FC in an official match.
It is interesting to note that all three goalscorers for Bourj FC, Hassan Chaito "Moni", Hilal El Helwe, and Mohamad El Husseini are either former or current players of Al Ahed. Moni and Hilal El Helwe played for Al Ahed in the past, while Mohamad El Husseini, who scored the winning goal for Bourj FC, is actually under contract with Al Ahed and plays for Bourj FC on loan.
Al Ahed: Mostafa Matar - Nour Mansour, Khalil Khamis, Hussein Zein (Mahmoud Zbib 58'), Hussein Dakik - Ali Al Haj (Hassan Farhat 84'), Mohamad Haidar (Karim Fadel 90'+2'), Hassan Srour, Walid Shour (Ali Hadid 58') - Mohamad Al Marmour (Zein Farran 46'), Karim Darwich. Manager: Raafat Mohammad.
Bourj: Hassan Hazimeh - Mohamad Zein Tahan, Khodor Hallak, Mohamad El Husseini, Shadi Skaf - Mohamad Al Faour (Mohamad El Hayek 60'), Bilal Sabbagh (Hussein Ibrahim 87'), Hassan Chaito "Moni" (Youssef Anbar 75'), Houssem Louati - Ali Kassas (Ali Markabawi 60'), Hilal El Helwe (Ali Chaito 75'). Manager: Malek Hassoun.
Referee: Mohamad Haddad.
Yellow cards: Mohamad Al Faour 22', Ali Markabawi 70', Khodor Hallak 75'.
Red card: Khalil Khamis 84'.
Bourj FC players and staff celebrating after the match. Photo source: Bourj FC Facebook page
The battle for the title remains exclusively between Ansar and Nejmeh, while Al Ahed will probably remain in third place. Bourj, in fifth, got a little bit closer to Safa, in fourth place. The next round will be played only on 16 June, after the break caused by the games of the national teams. There are three rounds to go, and the competition will probably end in the last days of June. However, there are also matches to be played in the Lebanese Cup, which will probably be played in July, making this season the longest in history.
Luckily for the teams in play-out, they were able to finish the season in time. The fight to avoid relegation took to the last round, after which AC Tripoli and Al Ahly Nabatieh were eventually relegated, while Hikma / Sagesse and Shabab Al Ghazieh remained in the top tier.
Full results, table and fixtures in the play-off:
Round 12 (26 May 2024)
Al Ahed – Bourj 2-3
Ansar – Racing 2-0
Safa – Nejmeh 0-2
Table
|
1 |
Ansar |
12 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
47-21 |
39 |
|
|
2 |
Nejmeh |
12 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
39-18 |
37 |
|
|
3 |
Al Ahed |
12 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
47-19 |
30 |
|
|
4 |
Safa |
12 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
33-31 |
25 |
(+) |
|
5 |
Bourj |
12 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
24-28 |
21 |
(+) |
|
6 |
Racing |
12 |
0 |
4 |
8 |
26-42 |
12 |
(+) |
(+) Points have been rounded up.
Round 13 (16 June 2024)
Nejmeh – Racing
Ansar – Bourj
Safa – Al Ahed
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