The derby between Fayoum and Tersana ended up with a draw

Fayoum SC - Tersana SC 1-1 (0-0)

Mahmoud Sami 56' penalty - Augustin Otto 64' penalty. 

Friday, 9 February 2024, 2:30 pm local time (12:30 pm UTC), Ittihad El Shorta (Police Academy) Stadium, Cairo, 13th round of the Second Division B, Group B.

The referees and the two team captains before the start of the match. Photo source: Tersana SC Facebook page

Tersana SC starting line-up. Photo source: Tersana SC Facebook page

The match opposed two undefeated teams, fighting for supremacy in Group B of the Second Division B. Nonetheless, there were 10 points between them before the match, and the gap remained the same in favour of Tersana, which can almost celebrate promotion. This was the last chance for Fayoum to shrink this large gap, and they were unable to win. However, they postponed Tersana celebrations for one or two weeks - in case of a Tersana win, they would have been mathematically promoted with four matches remaining for both teams and a a gap of 13 points.

Tersana's striker Augustin Otto fought against the entire Fayoum defence. Photo source: Tersana SC Facebook page

The match was pretty much disputed, especially in the midfield, because both teams tried to control the game. Attacks alternated, with none of the teams capable of maintaining possession or offensive pressure for too long. The first half ended with a good opportunity for Tersana, Ahmed Hamza taking well a free kick which almost hit the target (43').

There were frequent crosses and aerial duels in the two boxes. Photo source: Tersana SC Facebook page

The second half started better, and goals were scored after a short while. First, Mahmoud Sami took a free kick from the right side, crossed into the box, a defender cleared but the ball reached Mohannad Ahmed Zahran, who blasted it towards the goal, hitting the hands of a defender on the way (55'). The referee awarded a penalty for Fayoum, and Mahmoud Sami converted it: 1-0 (56').

Mahmoud Sami (in red, closest Fayoum player to the ball) scored the only goal for Fayoum from the penalty spot. Photo source: Tersana SC Facebook page

Tersana replied almost immediately, and their strong striker, Augustin Otto, tried to break through Fayoum defense, but was fouled inside the box (63'). The referee awarded a penalty for Tersana, and the same Augustin Otto converted it: 1-1 (64').

Augustin Otto scored the equalizer for Tersana, also from the penalty spot. Photo source: Tersana SC Facebook page

There were plenty of other chances until the final whistle, but none of the teams was able to score another goal, so the match ended in a draw, which seemed to make everybody content. The match was broadcasted by OnTime Sports.

In the next round, Tersana will face Al Wasta at home, while Fayoum will play away at Egypt Stars, in a match that might be decisive for the second place. In the meantime, on Monday, 12 February, Fayoum will play a very honourable friendly match, against Egyptian giants Zamalek.

Full results, table and fixtures:

 

Round 13 (9 February 2024)

 

Fayoum – Tersana 1-1

El Minya – Tamya 2-0

Al Wasta – Beni Mazar 1-0

Maghagha – Egypt Stars 0-0

Telephonat bye

 

Table

 

1	Tersana	12	9	3	0	25-4	30	Promotion to the Second Division
2	Fayoum	12	4	8	0	11-5	20
3	El Minya	12	5	4	3	16-13	19
4	Egypt Stars	11	5	3	3	17-6	18
5	Tamya	11	4	2	5	12-20	14
6	Beni Mazar	12	2	4	6	14-21	10
7	Telephonat	11	3	1	7	13-21	10
8	Al Wasta	11	1	6	4	11-15	9
9	Maghagha	12	1	5	6	7-19	8	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 14 (16 February 2024)

 

Beni Mazar – Telephonat

Tamya – Maghagha

Egypt Stars – Fayoum

Tersana – Al Wasta

El Minya bye

Al Ahed consolidate their leadership in the Lebanese League

Al Ahed - Bourj FC 3-0 (1-0)

Mohamad Al Marmour 45'+1', Hussein Dakik 74', Karim Darwich 90' (penalty).

Wednesday, 7 February 2024, 2:15 pm local time (12:15 pm UTC), Fouad Chehab Stadium, Jounieh, Lebanon, 2nd round of the championship play-off, Lebanese Premier League.

 Al Ahed starting line-up.

Bourj FC starting line-up.

The match between Al Ahed and Bourj FC was scheduled earlier, on Wednesday, 7 February, because Al Ahed has a difficult match against Al Kahraba (Iraq) in the knock-out stage of the AFC Cup next week. Although that match is supposed to be played at home, Al Ahed will have to play their home matches in Muscat (Oman) due to political and security reasons.

Al Ahed won rather easily the game against their local rivals Bourj FC, the final score being the same as in the regular season, 3-0. However, the difference was only made in the final minutes of the game.

The first half was rather disappointing, also from the point of view of the online viewers. MTV Sports missed a large bit of the first half in which, luckily, no goals were scored. From one could see, Al Ahed dominated the game, but were unable to break through the opposite defense. Bourj FC had a couple of actions, which led to nothing.

However, it was from one of the Bourj FC actions that led to the first Al Ahed goal. Houssem Louati took a free kick from the left, Al Ahed defense cleared, and Ali Al Hajj launched Lee Erwin. Was he in a regular position or in offside? The broadcast was so bad, that this is something that cannot be established: Lee Erwin and some of the Bourj defenders were not caught on the screen in the moment when Al Hajj passed. Lee Erwin then continued the counterattack, moving the ball from the left to Karim Darwich in the center, who assisted Mohamad Al Marmour on the right, who entered the box and scored with a shot to the far post: 1-0 (45'+1').

Mohamad Al Marmour shoots and scores for Al Ahed, despite Houssem Louati's desperate attempt at blocking.

Bourj FC players and staff protested for quite a while and even threatened to leave the field as a sign of protest. Later on, Al Ahed allegedly published a video which clearly shows that Lee Erwin was not offside in the moment of the pass. If the video is the one they uploaded on their Facebook page, I'm afraid I personally cannot see whether he is onside or offside. Discussions may continue eternally, the fact is that the referees approved the goal and the score at half-time was 1-0. VAR is needed, that's for sure, to help the referees (and the public) in such situations.

In the second half, Bourj FC tried to respond. They had more ball possession and attacked more dilligently, but seldom provided any danger to the opposite goal.

Houssem Louati (Bourj FC, in red) was one of the most active players of his team, but was often surrounded by the opponents. 

Exactly when Bourj FC intensified the pressure, Al Ahed doubled their difference. After a corner from the right side, two of the players who came in after half time, Mohamad Haidar, with the cross, and Hussein Dakik, with a beautiful shot (without any previous control of the ball), contributed to the second goal of the game: 2-0 (74'). The shot went through the defenders and up into the roof of the net, nothing to do for the goalkeeper Ali Halal.

Hussein Dakik scores the second goal for Al Ahed with a beautiful left-footed shot.

Bourj FC still had some theoretical chances to come back in this game, but these were all shatttered by their own player, forward Tidiane Camara, who scored a goal with the hand and therefore received a second yellow card and was sent off (78').

In the end, it was obvious that Bourj FC would not be able to score a goal in ten men, as they had not been able to score when they were still eleven in the field. But Al Ahed took advantage of the situation, and scored again. Not without some help from Shadi Skaf this time, who made a clear foul in his own box (89'). Karim Darwich took the penalty: 3-0 (90').

Karim Darwich (left) scored the third Al Ahed goal from the penalty spot.

Al Ahed: Mostafa Matar - Hussein Zein, Khalil Khamis, George Felix Melki, Ali Hadid (Hussein Dakik 57') - Karim Abou Zeid (Hassan Srour 46'), Walid Shour, Mohamad Al Marmour (Mohamad Haidar 57'), Ali Al Hajj - Lee Erwin, Karim Darwich. Manager: Raafat Mohammad.

Bourj FC: Ali Halal - Mohamad El Dor (Mohamad Zein Tahan 75'), Ahmad Al Saleh, Shadi Skaf, Mohamad Al Hayek - Mohamad El Husseini (Ali Chaito 68'), Prosper Donkor - Ali Markabawi (Mohamad Saleh 68'), Houssem Louati (Abou Baker Al Mel 85'), Ali Kassas (Hilal El Helwe 75') - Tidiane Camara. Manager: Hussein Tahan.

Referee: Ali Shams.

Red card: Tidiane Camara (78') - for a second yellow card.

The match was broadcasted by MTV Sports (MTV Lebanon) on their usual channels, including YouTube and Facebook. Unfortunately, only a part of the first half is included (basically from the 4th to the 21st minute, and then the last minutes), while the second half is full, but with interruptions. On Facebook, the available videos for the first half are slightly different (larger) than on YouTube, but there are plenty of interruptions, as well. Links on YouTube: First half (first part)  First half (last minutes)  Second half. Links on Facebook: First half (first part)  First half (last minutes)  Second half.

Al Ahed are now alone in the top position, because Nejmeh surprisingly lost to Safa, while Bourj dropped into fifth place. The next round will be played after two weeks, due to continental matches involving Lebanese teams. Bourj FC will face Ansar, while Al Ahed will play against Safa.

Full results, table, and fixtures:

 

Round 2 (7-10 February 2024)

 

Al Ahed – Bourj 3-0

Ansar – Racing 4-1

Safa – Nejmeh 1-0

 

      Table

 

1	Al Ahed	2	1	1	0	35-7	18
2	Nejmeh	2	0	1	1	25-12	15
3	Safa	2	2	0	0	24-17	15	(+)
4	Ansar	2	1	1	0	25-15	14
5	Bourj	2	0	1	1	17-14	12	(+)
6	Racing	2	0	0	2	20-24	8	(+)

 

(+) Points have been rounded up.

 

Round 3 (23-25 February 2024)

 

Nejmeh – Racing

Ansar – Bourj

Safa – Al Ahed