As amazing as it would seem, Lebanon’s top flight this season is going to be one of the most unpredictable ones, with the 4^th Week of league action being inundated by some unprecedented big surprises as the top of the table standings has now new leaders.
Defending title holders Al-Nijmeh, missing inspirational midfield schemer Moussa Hojeij, went down 2-1 at the hands of rampant Al-Ahed, who created history by claiming the leadership of the league table standings for the first time in their history.

Elsewhere, SAFA, one of Lebanon’s greatest and most entertaining sides in the last two decades, managed to beat star-studded Olympic Beirut 2-1 in a frenetic encounter, Olympic receiving their second league defeat out of four matches, to slip back to the 8^th spot in the table standings with just 4 points out of maximum 12. 

Al-Ansar, record holders of the league championship on 11 occasions, saw a stiff opposition in Sagesse who gained a well-deserved 3-1 victory, thanks mainly to their promising young marksman Paul Rustom who claimed a double-delight, added to another stupendous free-kick by new Brazilian recruit Marcelo Sander, as the Greens have renewed surprisingly with positive results.

Photo by : Adnan Hajj Ali
 

Al-Tadamon Tyre are also back to title contention, thanks to their narrow but vital 3-2 home win over visitors Al-Bourj, a second victory placing them at the 3^rd spot of the table standings with 8 points, only one point adrift of Al-Nijmeh, and a couple behind surprising leaders Al-Ahed.
Ghassan Germanos netted in stoppage time the winning goal for his side Al-Salam Zghorta who claimed a stunning 2-1 victory over hosts Akha-Ahly in Beirut, one week after being dealt a resounding 3-0 home defeat by unpredictable Olympic Beirut.
In the remaining league fixture of Week 4, Shabab Al-Sahel and Al-Mabarra shared the spoils at the 2-2 note, each side claiming one point after a dismal performance throughout the 90 minutes.
Following are the comments on the top three matches being played over the weekend:
 

Ahed v Al-Nijmeh: 2-1.
Defending league champions Al-Nijmeh saw their three-match winning series reaching climax when they stumbled to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of surprising outfits Al-Mabarra, new leaders of the table standings, while Safa gave an inspired display to hand favourites Olympic Club their second defeat in four matches, a 2-1 victory for the Yellows under new Syrian coach Nizar Mahrous.

Photo by Adnan Hajj Ali

Another third distinctive result was recorded on Sunday, with rejuvenated Sagesse winning 3-1 over a faltering Al-Ansar side, while Shabab Al-Sahel and promoted outfits Al-Mabarra shared the spoils at 2-2.
On Saturday, Al-Tadamon Tyre narrowly defeated Al-Bourj 3-2 to move to the third place on the table standings, while Al-Salam Zghorta handed Akha-Ahly a 2-1 defeat away from home in Beirut. 

Nearly 8,000 fans turned out for Al-Nijmeh vs. Al-Ahed, a much-anticipated clash between the top two sides at the end of the third week of league action in Lebanon, with the underdogs ending the thrilling game 2-1 in their favour, a historic result granting them the leadership of the table standings for the first time in their history.
This being said, Al-Nijmeh clearly felt the absence of their international schemer Moussa Hojeij (banned for 2 months by the local FA) throughout the 90 minutes, as they looked short of ideas in midfield, with only Gilberto Dos Santos showing bite and flair in the attacking line, the striker edged his side 1-0 up at the interval thanks to a brilliant effort after 13 minutes, as Al-Nijmeh fans thought themselves heading towards a fourth successive league win after the restart. 

However, it was Al-Ahed who got back into their strides after the break, tightening their rearguard and pushing themselves up-front time and again before levelling the scoreline in the 61^st minute at the end of a brilliant individual effort by Ali Al-Attar, with their inevitable elusive striker Ahmed Itani claiming the winner after 77 minutes (his fourth goal in four league outings) from a devastating drive in a crowded penalty area.
 

Safa v Olympic Beirut: 2-1.
The other interesting match on Sunday saw unpredictable SAFA giving a superb performance to finally floor star-studded Olympic Beirut 2-1, under the eyes of newly-appointed Syrian manager Nizar Mahrous.
Olympic, missing both keeper Ahmed Al-Saqr and defender Nabil Ba’albaki through suspension, never looked quite organized and committed through many stages of the game, something clearly never ticking for them after four matches, during which they have squandered 8 points after being dealt 2 defeats and held to one draw.

Photo by Adnan Hajj Ali

Star of the game for SAFA was another Syrian outfit, new import Hassan Ibrahim who scored the winners’ both goals after 13 and 44 minutes, thanks mainly to the impressive work of his attacking partner Ghassan Showaikh.
Olympic, for whom Silvio Costa managed to claim their lone goal midway through the first-half, made three substitutions after the restart in order to salvage at least one point, but to no avail against a resolute SAFA opposition.
Brazilian striker Edilson came in for the fading Krekor Alozian, Mohamed Qassas was replaced by the fresh Hussein Ollaiq, while Ali Hawila filled the gap of Imad Al-Miri, still it was Edilson who came twice to beat the vigilance of Hassan Harb between SAFA’s posts in the dying five minutes of the game, only to see the brilliant keeper up to his blistering efforts thanks to some instinctive saves.
 

Sagesse v Al-Ansar: 3-1.
Sagesse renewed with victories following their impressive 3-1 victory over Al-Ansar, a game completely controlled by the winning side for whom German manager Theo Bucker looks like finding the winning formula after 4 league outings.

Bucker’s brilliant scheme of play consisted of a sound defensive rearguard comprising Ibrahim Hosni, Souhad Zahran and new recruit Youssouf Barakat, leaving little space for Peter Prospar and Malek Hassoun to maneuver and commanding their own penalty area which sheer class and finesse, throughout.

Photo by Adnan Hajj Ali

Young promising marksman Paul Rustom hailed himself once again as Sagesse’s main weapon with 2 goals netted after 15 and 56 minutes, respectively, with former Al-Ansar Brazilian schemer Marcelo Sander virtually killing the game in the 73^rd minute from a devastating well-curled free-kick, as Sagesse gained an unexpected big league in front of their ecstatic fans.
Hassan Darwishe gained a consolation goal for Al-Ansar in stoppage time, but that wasn’t enough to prevent their fans from jeering their favourites throughout the second-half, a match the side must put behind very fast if to get back on winning track very soon.

written by : Mohamed Chbaro