Fifteenth Stage: Another [1-0] win for Sagesse over Homenetmen, Nejmeh overwhelms Ahley Saida [4-1], Sahel defeats Homenmen [3-0], Tadamoun defeats Bourj [1-0], Salam defeats Racing [4-0], Ansar ties with Safa, & Ahed with Ikhaa Ahley [1-1]..
March 10, 2002

 

Sagesse x Homentmen.. March 7, 2002

Sagesse defeated Homenetmen [1-0] in the match that took place on Thursday March 7, 2002 at 2:45 p.m., Bourj Hammoud stadium. The match goal was scored by Tomi Jiacomali [54'].

Another tight win for the greens that stretches their lead run in the league. A humble performance though raising many questions about their ability to endure the remaining matches that are more difficult.

Sagesse's poor performance of the first got changed as soon as Vartan Ghazarian replaced Paul Rustom, and activated the Greens' squad, the consequence was set by Ghazarian pass to Tomi that caused the winner goal, and another week for Sagesse in the lead of the championship.
 

Nejmeh v Ahley Sidon [4-1]..
March 6, 2002

Nejmeh temporarily toped the table with the four goals that gave them their fourth win in a row against Ahley Sidon in Beirut’s Camille Chamoun Sports City [5,000 crowd].

There was no doubt who would be the winner of this game in fact, if there were any bets they would have surely been on how big the margin of the victory. Hassan Husseini missed no time in taking full advantage of his early goal opportunity, as the defender took the lead for the home team [6’]. It wasn’t till near the half-way point that Nejmeh’s second goal hit the net as Bilal Fleifel netted his first of two during the game [41’]. A cross down the right wing from Ali Asaad was met by Bilal’s diving header to bring the half-time score to 2-0. Asaad then set up the first goal of the second half as this time it was Abbas Atoui who would shoot [57’] and claim his personal 6th goal of the season. Marwan Khaled got a goal [68’] back for the visitors from the south as he claimed only the 13th goal to get past the Nejmeh defense this season. However, the southerners had little time to celebrate as a rebound from Terro Keheyan’s shot a minute later was netted by Bilal Fleifel for his 8th this season [69’].

Nejmeh have another easy game against Homenmen next, as they hope that Sagesse can slip up. Ahley can on the other hand only hope for a miracle as Nejmeh but their hopes in this team to gain something against their next opponents league-leaders Sagesse.

Written by: Bassam Mahfouz
 

Homenmen v Shabab al Sahel [0-3]..
March 6, 2002

Homenmen were seriously wounded by their visitors Shabab al Sahel as the Blues netted three times in thirty minutes to claim an undeniable victory. The game was played in Bourj Hammoud in front of around 100 spectators.

It was no shock that two of the goals came from prolific Iraqi goal scorer Mahmoud Majeed who opened the score line as he won the ball and the knocked the ball into the back of the net [17’]. His second goal came from a cross from fellow national Adnan Mohamed which he could not help but knock in [24’] to take his name to the top of the league goal scorers table with 13 this season. It was then down to defender Luis Fernandez to put the last nail in Homenmen’s coffin as his head met another cross from Adnan Mohamed and again beat the keeper [30’]. Ali Bazzi was then in actual fact substituted at half-time between the posts by Sarkis Bozoian. Neither team managed to score after that.

Homenmen still top the bottom four spots and are no closer to jumping out of that destined relegation zone with their next game being against title contenders Nejmeh. Shabab al Sahel remain in third with 30 points and have Al Ansar to face next in the season.

Written by: Bassam Mahfouz
 

Tadamoun Tyre v Bourj [1-0]..
March 6, 2002

Again a slender victory on the pitch for Tadamoun gives them three valuable points in their hope for an honorable place on the table this season. Following the fiasco against Ansar in their last game the team had to play this “home” game in the Fouad Chehab Municipal stadium in Jounieh [1,000 crowd].

As suggested in my last article about Bourj they are facing three defeats beginning with this one against the Tyrants as trends have shown, despite their impressive 3-0 victory over Ikhaa in their last game. The major incidents of the game occurred in the second half as it was opened with the games only goal from Iraqi Haidar Najem [48’] as he whacked the ball in for a blinding winning goal. However, disaster struck for the Tyreants and possibly more importantly the national team as Haitham Zein had to be brought off the field minutes after the goal with an injury that could possibly put him out of action for the rest of the season.

Tadamoun may have jumped to fourth spot, but how long can they stay in the top 4? They may have only lost one game so far this season, but they cannot take their winning form as given as the opposition improves from game to game, their next match being against unpredictable Ahed, the last time they met at the start of February saw a draw, can Tadamoun pull an extra goal out of the hat? Bourj look to prove their trend with a second loss in a row against their next opponents Safa.

Written by: Bassam Mahfouz
 

Salam defeated Racing [4-0].. March 7, 2002

Salam Zgharta defeated Racing [4-0] in the match that took place on Thursday March 7, 2002 at 4:45 p.m., Beirut Municipality stadium. The match goals were scored by Wehbeh Eddwaihi [17'], & Simbakor Sissy [64', 77', 92'].

Salam dominated the match and increased the wounds of Racing who is facing relegation to second division.
 

Al Ansar v Safa 1-1.. March 6, 2002

Al Ansar took a point in their game against Safa as both goals were netted in the first half of the game played out on Beirut’s Municipal Stadium [1,000crowd].

It was the former Green giants who shaped the game from the start and it showed as they took an early lead through former T&T captain David Nakid [9’] as he beat Ansar’s former man between the posts Sultan Qassem. It was former Sagesse star Salmao Salhah who leveled the game [35’] for Safa as his long range shot from just outside the box beat Ziad al-Samad to claim his 5th league goal and became his side’s top striker this season so far. Both sides missed great opportunities throughout the rest of this thrilling game between two teams who a few seasons ago were both battling at the top. Ansar’s other Caribbean star Peter Prospar almost stole three points for the Greens minutes from the final whistle, but Gerard Boyam of Cameroon cleared the ball of the line and saved what would have been a great disappointment for the visitors.

For Ansar the result means no movement on the table, while Safa will suffer as they move down a possible two spots. Ansar’s next game against Shabab al Sahel will again not be an easy task. For Safa they should be hoping for all three points against Bourj who if they follow their trend should lose their next two games.

Written by: Bassam Mahfouz
 

Ahed ties with Ikhaa Ahley [1-1]..
March 7, 2002

Ahed tied with Ikhaa Ahley Aley [1-1] in the match that took place on Thursday March 7, 2002 at 2:45 p.m., Beirut Sports City stadium. The match goals were scored by Ali Badawi [45'] for Ikhaa, & Didier Tambourah [84'] for Ahed.