First win this season for Bourj FC after five consecutive defeats

Shabab Baalbeck - Bourj FC 1-3 (0-1)

Hussein Ghanem 90'+3' - Hassan Chaito "Moni" 34', Hassan Mehanna 73' (penalty), Ali Rahal 80'.

Wednesday, 19 February 2025, 2:15 pm local time (12:15 UTC), Amin Abdelnour Stadium, Bhamdoun (Aley), Lebanon, 6th round of the Lebanese Premier League.

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

Shabab Baalbeck starting line-up. Photo source: Lebanese FA Facebook page

On a rainy and foggy day of February, Bourj FC got their first win of the season, after five consecutive defeats which worried everyone in the club, as they were last in the table without any point(s). Interesting enough, this result came when Bourj FC played "away" at newly-promoted Shabab Baalbeck, in fact on Amin Abdelnour Stadium in Bhamdoun, which is not really the home ground for Shabab Baalbeck and may be considered as a neutral venue for the two teams, or even more of a home ground for Bourj FC, which played here their home games for many years.

The match was quite balanced in the beginning, with both teams trying to gain control of the midfield and to launch dangerous actions towards the opposite goal. Shabab Baalbeck had their first opportunity in the 18th minute by means of former Bourj player Hussein Al Outa, but Bourj goalkeeper Ahmad Diab saved. The Ghanaian centre back Abdulai Ibrahim also made his official debut for Bourj FC in this match, and his presence was a clear asset for the Bourj defence, which looked more secure than in previous games.

Gradually, Bourj FC pushed the game in their favour and managed to break the deadlock. Mohammad Hammoud took a corner kick from the right side, and Hassan Chaito "Moni" headed from close range: 0-1 (34'). Immediately after, Hassan Mehanna could have increased the difference, but missed from an excellent position (35').

After the break, Shabab Baalbeck tried to come back into the game, but most of the chances belonged to Bourj FC, and especially to Hassan Mehanna, who had a number of big opportunities to make it 2-0. Eventually he did, from a penalty he also created, being fouled after a one on one situation with the goalkeeper, after he succeeded to dribble the goalkeeper. Hassan Mehanna himself converted the penalty: 0-2 (73').

With most of the stress flying away, Bourj FC played very nice football and delivered quite a show in the final minutes. Ali Rahal scored the most spectacular goal of the game, with a sensational shot from the right wing to the far post: 0-3 (80'). Shabab Baalbeck also had their consolation goal in stoppage time, when Hussein Ghanem scored from inside the area: 1-3 (90'+3'). 

Bourj starting line-up: Ahmad Diab - Ali Abboud, Abdulai Ibrahim, Mohamad Choumer, Mohamad Hammoud - Mohamad Al Sibaii "Wartan", Ibrahim Hammoudi, Hassan Chaito "Moni" - Ahmad Hijazi, Hassan Mehanna, Ali Rahal. Manager: Fouad Hijazi. Subs who entered in the second half: Abdullah Aich, Ali El Haddad, Hassan El Mokdad.

The match was broadcasted live on FIFA Plus (FIFA +) platform (freely available for anyone). After some harsh defeats (2-0 to Tadamon Sour, 4-0 to Safa, and 1-0 to Ansar), Bourj FC seem to have less difficult opponents in the next rounds, and after the win against Shabab Baalbeck, they already climbed in the table from the bottom position to the second-to-last place. Their next game will be again on Wednesday, 26 February, against Racing Beirut, away.