Eighteenth Stage: Nejmeh clinched the top spot with last minute gasp against Bourj [3-2], Sagesse tied with Ansar [0-0], Sahel with Ahed [2-2], Tadamoun defeated Ikhaa [1-0], Safa defeated Salam [2-1], Homenmen defeated Homenetmen [2-0], Ahley tied with Racing [0-0]..
March 31, 2002

 

Husseini's last minute goal sent Nejmeh to the top spot.. March 24, 2002

Nejmeh clinched the top spot after defeating Bourj [3-2] in the match that took place on Sunday March 24, 2002 at 4:45 p.m., Beirut Sports City stadium. The match goals were scored by Bilal Fleifel [45'], Jamal el Hajj [57'], & Hassan Husseini [93'] for Nejmeh, and Darlington [52', 67'] for Bourj.

Fate smiled to Nejmeh when granted them a deserved last minute victory over trouble-maker Bourj. The Beiruti side advanced twice over the 90 minutes through Fleifel, & el Hajj with Bourj equalizing by Darlington's head. The heat kept rising up, and Nejmeh fans getting out of their mind after knowing the end result of Sagesse vs. Ansar match.

Nejmeh side had only win as the main title for the match, but the annoying Bourj were a difficult opponent, and only up to the last minute when Hojeij crossed the ball inside Bourj area to find the head of defender Hassan Husseini who made a strong 'shot' inside the target. Tens of Nejmeh fans fainted as they saw their side reach the top spot in the lethal time of the match. A deserved win over a difficult opponent.
 

Sagesse v Ansar [0-0].. March 24, 2002

This crucial game played on Bourj Hammoud provided for Nejmeh’s best result.  Ansar have nothing to play for but pride and the outside possibility that they may be relegated, while Sagesse have the title to claim.  It seems however, that it is enough reason for Ansar to put up a good fight, but perhaps by doing so they have let in their bitter enemies through the back door to a championship title that was once practically owned by the team.

So no goals could separate the two Greens as both veteran international striker Vartan Ghazarian and Brazilian import Tommy Jiacomelli were kept out by the Ansar defence.  An amazing feat considering that Ansar’s last and only clean sheet in the season so far had been in their opening game against lowly Homenmen.  It is perhaps a more accurate sign of Sagesse’s decline over the past few games. Sagesse’s Issa Ramadan missed the only clear opportunity at goal in the first half of the game as his forceful shot hit a defender and whistled past the goalpost. Mohammad Jawad missed two opportunities in the second half to take Ansar into the lead, with team-mate Peter Prospar joining him on the list of nearly goals.  Sagesse had only one clear opportunity in the second half once more as Mohammad Qassas sent his chance at glory over the crossbar.

Sagesse’s result against troubled Ansar allowed Nejmeh to take top spot if only on goal difference.  But what a goal difference it is Nejmeh stand at +30, while Sagesse have only half that to their name.  Should they wish to be on top of Nejmeh at the end of the season, it seems that it could all be down to the last game (which was also the goal bonanza opener) of the season.  An odd goal in the last game could be all that is needed for either side to clinch the title, with the top three clubs all having lost only one game all season.

Written by: Bassam Mahfouz
 

Ahed holds Sahel with [2-2] draw.. March 25, 2002

Shabab Sahel tied with Al-Ahed [2-2] in the match that took place on Monday March 25, 2002 at 3:00 p.m., Beirut Municipality stadium. The match goals were scored by Mahmoud Majeed, & Othman Saleh for Sahel, and Didier Tambourah, & Youssef Jawhari (penalty kick). for Ahed.
 

Tripoli’s Olympic Municipal Stadium played host to this game between two clubs just chasing the leading pack of the table.  Safa’s very own home grown star Ahmed Naamani netted twice in the second half to give his side 3 points to distance themselves from their opponents on points as opposed to goals scored.

Last season this young promising former defender looked to have his career ended.  Now with these two goals playing for the first time up front this season, he has over taken both Marius Beatnik and Salmao Salhah as Safa’s top league scorer with 7.  No goals were netted in the first fourty-five minute period with Salam’s Moussa Abu Baker and Simbakor Sissy  both missing vital chances.  That was certainly made up for in the second as Ahmed Naamani made no mistake hit the ball in between the posts in a space of only 5 minutes [51’, 55’]!  While Simbakor Sissy claimed a consolation goal for the home side with about quarter of an hour to go [74’] with his 7^th, it was nothing more than that as Salam again failed got get even a point in the second game on the trot.

It looks like their next game against Shabab al Sahel will prove to be just another defeat looking at their current form.  Safa next face Ikhaa in their own derby with the Yellows looking clear favourites over the erratic Mount Lebanon club.

Written by: Bassam Mahfouz
 

Homenmen v Homenetmen [2-0].. March 23, 2002

Homenmen claimed a valuable yet unsurprising 3 points in the Armenian derby played out in Beirut Municipality stadium [2,000 crowd].  Having won the game by the same gap almost exactly two months earlier to the date, they closed the gap between themselves and Ansar.

Both of the victorious side’s goals came from Syrian international Hassan Ibrahim.  However, having scored twice from no less than 6 golden opportunities is not such an impressive strike rate, especially considering the quality of the opposition.  He did put his side into the lead with a fantastic strike [25’], to give Homenmen the deserved advance.  It then took to the stroke of half-time before Ibrahim’s second would give his side an undeniable lead over relegation-bound Homenetmen.  Fadi Zein made a fantastic cross from the left wing that was accurately met by Ibrahim to net his 10^th league goal and remain as Homenmen’s top goal scorer by a mile and a half!

Despite this important victory for Homenmen, there is really little chance that either of these two former Lebanese footballing giants will be able to survive the drop that faces them at the end of this season.  While it will be a shame to see two of Lebanon’s best clubs (historically) take the drop, it has been a long time coming – for Homenetmen at least. With the days victors only hopes pinned to Ansar dropping some more points as the season draws to an end.

Written by: Bassam Mahfouz
 

Climax of the bottom ends friendly [0-0].. March 23, 2002

Ahley Saida tied with Racing [0-0] in the match that took place on Saturday March 23, 2002 at 3:00 p.m., Bourj Hammoud stadium.