Seventh Stage: Nejmeh reaches the top with a narrow win over Salam, Sahel falls by three to Ikhaa, Sagesse, Safa, Al-Ahed, Tadamoun, & Al-Ansar impress their fans in the seventh stage with important victories..
January 15, 2002
 

Nejmeh reaches the top spot with a narrow win over Salam [1-0].. January 13, 2002

Nejmeh defeated Salam Zgharta [1-0] in the match that took place on Sunday January 13, 2002, at 2:15 p.m., Tripoli Municipality stadium. The match goal was scored by Abbas Atoui on the 78t. minute.

Nejmeh reached the top spot after defeating Salam [1-0] in the match taking place in north Lebanon on a sunny Sunday gathering thousands of Football fans at Rasheed Karami stadium in Tripoli. Both teams provided an excellent match full of energy and rivalry, and the side able to score goals was the one who eventually won the match. Nejmeh played a good match, and made a generous effort in the midfield through Hojeij with help from McFarlane, & Kehian in the forward, but the real translation of opportunities and missed shots on the post and the bar came late in the match through Abbas Atoui to bring the joy to thousands of the club's fans who made a long trip to Tripoli to watch their team. On their part, Salam made a good performance too, especially through their Attacking duet Wehbeh Eddwaihi & Rabih Othman who did everything but scoring goals, and caused much disturbance to Nejmeh defense especially in the late time of the second half after the substitution of Nejmeh injured goal keeper that would have brought Salam the equalizer and much more if properly using the available opportunities in front of the goals.

Nejmeh reached the top spot, and this would add a more difficult task on the red-jersey players to keep the lead, and continue on the same pace while Salam would consider getting over this loss, and carry on the good performance of the 41st. league.

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Ikhaa Ahley white wash league leaders Shabab al Sahel.. January 12, 2002

Coming into this game played in the national stadium Ikhaa Ahley shared the same number of points as Ahley Sidon, while Shabab al Sahel were sitting high and mighty on top of the table without a defeat to their name and having conceded only 2 goals in the previous six games past their new signing, national team keeper Ali Fakih. But to show how tight this season is going to be the boys from Mount Lebanon put three goals past their opponents allowing other title challengers the opportunity to take pole position on goal difference. Two national team heroes claimed the goals for Ikhaa as Zaher al-Indari took the first two [65’, 84’], and Gilberto Dos Santos ended the game with his [90’]. An amazing result considering it was 0-0 at half-time!

Iraqi Mahmoud Majeed could not make the most of two golden opportunities he had for his side as neither side was able to beat the keepers in the first 45-minute period. However, Ikhaa who had had the good fortune of missing a game due to a postponement and so a break over their rivals were able to make the most of the second half. Zaher al-Indari’s return to the field since the Elite Cup tournament was evident as he put two past Ali Fakih’s almost impenetrable goalmouth. It was Ikhaa who would claim their second clean sheet on the trot rather than title pretenders Shabab al Sahel thanks to Mazen Maadad. Gilberto Dos Santos then rounded off the game as he blasted the ball past Fakih, following on from a roaring pass from none other than al-Indari.

So Ikhaa Ahley back on their feet and providing a shock for Sahel who were almost certainly on a high. While the result was completely one-sided this season is proving more and more to be a battle-royal between almost 10 of the division’s sides. Shabab al Sahel will almost certainly bounce back with their next game against another Ahley this time of Saida. While, Ikhaa Ahley will face the only remaining undefeated side of the season, Ahed.

Written by: Bassam Mahfouz

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Tadamoun achieves an easy win in front of Bourj [3-1].. January 13, 2002

Tadamoun Sour defeated Bourj [3-1] in the match that took place on Sunday January 13, 2002 at 2:15 p.m., Beirut Municipality stadium. The match goals were scored by Haidar Najem [30'], Nasrat el-Jamal [47'], & Faisal Antar [59'] for Tadamoun, & Mustafa Zaayter [85'] for Bourj.

Tadamoun imposed its superiority on Bourj, and achieved an easy win over the newly promoted team of Div2. Tadamoun started the match slowly, but with consistent performance, and clear dominance that gradually turned into serious opportunities especially after the scoring of the first goal on the 30th. minute by Haidar Najem. After which, Tadamoun performance continued to rise, and the goals fell like rains over Bourj players, and the match ended actually after the 3rd. goal for Tadamoun after which the Tyre's sons reduced their pressure, and tended for slight exercise in the Sunday after noon. This allowed Bourj to score their honor goal on the 85th. minute by Zaayter, and were close to add another one by Darlington has Korken not cleared that ball very well.

Tadamoun continued the upward movement, and is waiting for a similar task next week against Racing. On their part, Bourj are far from resting period, and are yet for another difficult task against Salam Zgharta.

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Ahed continue undefeated streak.. January 12, 2002

Ahed surprisingly remained as the only undefeated side in the league after their unsurprising win in Beirut’s Sports City against a beleaguered Homenetmen. All thanks to a last minute goal in the first half from Abbas Kanaan [45’].

This seems to be the best Ahed team in the club’s short history and while are unlikely to take top spot are certainly the dark horse to watch out for this season. Ahed had all notable possession in the first half, but the goal that separated the two teams showed Homenetmen’s weakness so much as it showed Ahed’s luck so far. An average free-kick in stoppage time from Abbas Kanaan curled under keeper Sarkis Eskejian who completely showed himself up by mistiming his movements allowing a sloppy goal to lose yet another game.

Homenetmen are seriously endangered for Division 2 football next season following their fifth defeat with no signs of life showing yet. They have the worst attacking record of any top-flight team with only three goals to their credit. However, Ahed are certainly providing something for their fans to get excited about.

Written by: Bassam Mahfouz

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Al Ansar relax to much against stern opposition down.. January 12, 2002

Ahley Sidon did very well a game that on paper should have been an easy victory for the Greens in Tyre's Municipal Stadium.

The first half saw the two sides go into the break without a goal to either of their names. Caribbean stars Peter Prospar and David Nakid notably missed three chances between them to take the Greens into the lead. However, whatever was said at half-time certainly gave the World Record Book entrants a boost as it took only a matter of minutes before #7 Mohamed Jawad claimed the first on southern soil [49’] after receiving a smart ball from veteran Green captain Jamal Taha to blast the ball at close range. T&T star David Nakid made a long ball through to Jamal for the second goal [78’] as the captain beat a defender before beating Mohamed Santina’s goal mouth. A good thing too as Ahley pulled one back as one substitute Maher Hamdar chipped the ball past another sub keeper Bilal Ezzo a minute into injury time. It could have been an interesting result were it not for Taha’s winning goal!

Ansar are notably lying in 8th place and had a close result, despite having a one-game break against relegation-bound Ahley Sidon. It seems that while they are only 3 points behind the leaders and have a game in hand, they are destined for mediocrity this season, or perhaps just a little above. Ahley Sidon need all the points they can get, but is their next game against Shabab al Sahel a good time to go looking for them?

Written by: Bassam Mahfouz

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