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Match Reports
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Second Stage: Salam Continues
the impressive performance, Tadamoun back on the track, Draw
prevails over all other 5 matches..
December 24, 2001
Second stage of the
Lebanese Football championship witnessed an increased level of
defense with 5 matches ending in draw, the number of goals went
down from 26 goals in the first stage into 17 goals signing at
additional defensive efforts made by the clubs. On other levels,
Salam Zgharta continued its successful start and grabbed 3
additional points after defeating Ikhaa Ahley [3-1], and
remained as the only team with 6 pts. out of possible 6 from
after winning 2 matches. In addition, the second win of this
stage came from Tadamoun Sour who defeated his Southern neighbor
Ahley Saida [3-0] in their derby match. As for Nejmeh, and its
fans, the heartache is yet to end, and the bleeding of points in
on with a negative draw against Homentmen.
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Sagesse equalizes Bourj [2-2] in
injury time..
December 22, 2001
It
should have been an easy game for the side that beat Nejmeh in
an amazing 5-4 thriller only a week before, as they faced newly
promoted Bourj in their second league encounter. Sagesse found
themselves in trouble in Jounieh as they had to come back twice
to level the game. Fadl Essayed opened the score for Bourj
[40] only for none other than veteran Vartan Ghazarian to net
the equalizer on the stroke of half-time [45] with his fourth
league goal. Bourj then gained the lead again through Abbas
Atoui [78]. But, Sagesse were saved from a humiliating defeat
at home when Fouad Hijazi headed in the crucial equalizer in the
90th minute. Bourj are proving themselves a team not to be
taken lightly, but Sagesse cannot afford to slip up like this
too often if they wish to win the title.
Written by: Bassam
Mahfouz
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Mohammad Kassas suffered close
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Kevork superb shot brings equalizer
to Homenmen against Safa
December 22, 2001
Homenmen played in front of
a small crowd at their home in Bourj Hammoud as they gained
their first league point. In a day of draws they went in
goal-less at the break before conceding a goal to Safa at the
start of the second half. Ali Wassef Mohamed (46) scored his
second league goal in as many games for Safa. Homenmen then
grabbed a point as former Ansar defender Kevork Garabetian [78]
scored the sides first league goal a mere 12 minutes from time.
Safa temporarily topped the table with the draw at the end of
the first day.
Written by: Bassam
Mahfouz
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Kevork Garabetian congratulated by
his
teammates for the wonderful goal. |
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Al-Ahed ties with Racing [1-1]
December 22, 2001
Al-Ahed tied with Racing [1-1] in the match that took place on
Saturday December 22, 2001 at 2:15 p.m., Beirut Sports City. The
match goals were scored by Youssef Jawhari [56'] for Al-Ahed, &
Louis Trentik [93'] for Racing. Al-Ahed played with excessive
self-confidence, and missed a guaranteed win after its defense
failed to mark Louis Trentik in the lethal time of the match.
Racing played a good match, and its goal keeper Ali Jubeili
played a major role in his team, with his excellent performance,
and saving 3 major opportunities for Ahed, Opik coach of Racing
made a yielding move after entering Ahmad Jradi who provided
Trentik with the golden pass that led to the equalizer after all
match viewers accepted the [1-0] victory of Al-Ahed.
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Al-Ansar ties with Shabab Sahel [1-1]
December 16, 2001
Al-Ansar tied with Shabab
Sahel [1-1] in the match that took place on Saturday December
22, 2001 at 5:00 p.m., Beirut Municipality stadium. Sahel
advanced on the 9th. minute by Adnan Mohammad, Al-Ansar
equalized on the 20th. minute with a wonderful header by Peter
Prosper. Both teams equally dominated the pitch, and lacked
proper finishing of attacks, & of readiness. Ziad Al-Samad GK of
Al-Ansar saved a penalty kick for Sahel by Mahmoud Majeed
on the 58th. minute. The referee cancelled a legitimate goal for
Al-Ansar by Peter Prosper on the 68th. minute for Off-side. Fair
result for both teams, and more development of performance is
expected during the coming stages.
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Mohammad Jawad of Al-Ansar
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Salam
Zgharta defeats Ikhaa Ahley Aley [3-1] and moves to Top..
December 23, 2001
Salam Zgharta defeated its host Ikhaa Ahley Aley [3-1] in the
match that took place on Sunday December 23, 2001 at 2:15 p.m.,
Beirut Sports City stadium. The match goals were scored by
Wehbeh Eddwaihi [11'], Moussa Abou Baker [81'], & Mohsen Nasseef
[89'] for Salam, & Andreas Silva [30'] for Ikhaa.
The Northern team captured the lead of the championship table,
being the only team to achieve 2 wins in the championship. The
win was not an easy task, as for much of the time the draw was
very near especially has Gilberto of Ikhaa managed to use its
opportunity just before Salam scoring their 3rd. goal. Salam
made a good performance, and Ibrahim Youssef played a major role
in the midfield unlike his teammate Rabih Othman who's
performance was less than that of the opening match despite
providing a pass for the first goal. As for Ikhaa, this team
still lacks the efforts of its International attacker Zaher
Indari, as such his teammate Gilberto is facing close marking,
and lack of accurate passes from his teammates. The results
moved Salam to the top. Ikhaa Ahley should consider its options,
after bleeding 5 points in the first stages of the championship
before the coming more critical stages.
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Deserved Win celebration |
Young Homentmen & Frustrated Nejmeh settles on negative draw..
December 23, 2001
Homentmen tied with Nejmeh [0-0] in the match that took place on
Sunday December 23, 2001 at 5:00 p.m., Beirut Municipality
stadium. Abdo Tafeh GK of Nejmeh saved a penalty kick on the
36th. minute for Homentmen player Vladimir. The match turned out
to be a big disappointment for Nejmeh fans who were expecting a
much energetic squad able to grab 3 points and join the
championship race. For their bad luck, neither the new
Cameroonian Alein Nicolas, nor the other changes on the squad
Bilal Fleifel, Mahmoud Karneeb, & Hassan Husseini were able to
change the team dull performance, the team missed a lot of
opportunities, and suffered serious gaps in defense especially
during the first half after Mahmoud Karneeb got expelled with a
second yellow care and a red Card for blocking Homentmen
attacker inside the penalty area. Unlike them, Abdo Tafeh GK of
Nejmeh played a major role in keeping its target safe. On their
part, Homentmen made no mistakes in front of Nejmeh, blocked
their area, but they retreated to their area in the second half
as if they accepted the draw despite their opponent numerical
deficit. This facilitated Nejmeh task, the defense went better,
Z Saad entered and enhanced the midfield line. The opportunities
were missed in front of Homentmen target especially Alein
Nicolas, & Z Saad shots that went near the posts of Homentmen
target during the last few minutes of the match, and the time
went out. The final result [0-0] with 1 point to each team.
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Abbas Atoui made a generous effort
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Tadamoun Sour defeats Ahley Saida
[3-0]..
December 23, 2001
The Southern
derby was marred over the weekend by the hosts loosing three
influential members of their administration through resignation,
but the players on the field showed why they are one of the
favorites for the title against their minnow neighbors Ahley of
Sidon. Nothing less than the 3-0 victory would have satisfied
the large crowd that had come to the stadium. New signing
Nigerian Boboi Kennedy headed the home sides first [35] taking
his side leading 1-0 at the break. Veteran international
defender Korken Inkebarian then converted a penalty [67] to
make it 2-0, and the last goal of the game came from another new
signing Ghassan Shweikh [87]. The result takes Tadamoun 2nd in
the table, while Ahley Saida lie bottom, the only league side
not to have claimed a point so far.
Written by: Bassam
Mahfouz
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