
Al-Ansar takes sole possession of the top spot in the Lebanese championship after its victory in the Beirut derby against Nejmeh. Meanwhile, Al-Ahed and Safa neutralize each other, allowing the leader to pull away. A look back at a sixth matchday full of emotions.
Al-Ansar made a strong statement in the Lebanese Premier League by winning the fiery "Beirut derby" against its eternal rival Nejmeh (2-1). Under heavy rain and in an electrified Fouad Chehab Stadium, the Greens secured a prestigious victory that allows them to take sole control of the standings after this sixth matchday.
An Intense Clash in the Rain
Despite difficult weather conditions, the match delivered a thrilling spectacle, true to the heated history of this derby. As early as the 13th minute, Hassan Maatouk, captain and maestro of Al-Ansar, opened the scoring with a powerful shot under the crossbar after an excellent service from the left.
Inspired and incisive, the Greens continued to push and doubled their lead in the 56th minute thanks to Youssef al-Hajj, who struck an unstoppable cross-shot, well set up by Maatouk after a right-side incursion. This goal rewarded Al-Ansar’s tactical dominance, as they controlled the midfield and exploited the spaces left by Nejmeh on the wings.
Nejmeh, far from giving up, responded in the 71st minute. Mohammad Omar Sadek restored hope to his team by capitalizing on a scramble in the box, his shot hitting the post before ending up in the back of the net. The final minutes were a real test for Al-Ansar’s defense, which withstood Nejmeh’s repeated attacks.
With this victory, Al-Ansar continues its perfect run with 18 points from six matches, consolidating its position as leader. Meanwhile, Nejmeh stalls in sixth place with only 7 points, seeing its dream of a double seriously compromised.
Tight Duel Between Al-Ahed and Safa
On the same Jounieh pitch, Al-Ahed and Safa could not be separated (0-0) on Tuesday in a duel between title contenders.
Despite a closed first half, the match picked up pace after the break, especially following the expulsion of a Safa player, confirmed by VAR. Reduced to ten men, Safa’s players showed resilience, holding off Al-Ahed’s assaults until the end. Al-Ahed’s lack of offensive efficiency cost them two precious points, despite their clear dominance in the closing stages.
This draw benefits Al-Ansar, who widens the gap at the top, while Al-Ahed and Safa now share second place with 16 points each.
Shabab Al-Sahel Continues Against Racing
At the Al-Ahed stadium, Shabab Al-Sahel secured a second consecutive victory by defeating Racing Beirut (1-0).
The only goal of the match came from a penalty converted by Nigerian Samad Kadri just before halftime (45’). Despite an average performance, Racing had a golden opportunity to equalize late in the game but failed to capitalize.
With this result, Shabab Al-Sahel climbs to 6 points, while Racing remains stuck at the bottom of the standings with only 3 points.
A Dull Encounter Between Riyadi Abbasiyé and Shabab Ghazieh
At Abbas Nasser Stadium in Abbasiyé, Riyadi Abbasiyé and Shabab Ghazieh played out a goalless draw (0-0).
In a match lacking clear chances, neither team managed to take the upper hand, highlighting the offensive struggles of both sides.
This result helps no one, as Abbasiyé stagnates at 3 points, while Shabab Ghazieh remains at the bottom with only 2 points, still without a win this season.
Al-Bourj Finally Opens Its Account
At the Bhamdoun pitch, Al-Bourj secured its first victory of the season by defeating Shabab Baalbek (3-1).
After a competitive first half, Hassan Chaito opened the scoring in the 34th minute. In the second half, Hassan Mehanna doubled the lead from the penalty spot (73’), before Ali Rahhal sealed the win in the 80th minute.
Hussein Ghanem pulled one back for Baalbek in stoppage time (90+3’), but it was too late to mount a comeback. This victory gives Al-Bourj some breathing room with 5 points, while Baalbek remains in trouble with 3 points.
Sagesse Misses the Chance Against Tadamon Tyr
At Wata Al-Museitbeh, La Sagesse and Tadamon Tyr shared the points (0-0).
Dominant throughout, the Greens missed a great opportunity to snatch victory when Diang’s penalty struck the crossbar. Despite multiple attempts, La Sagesse failed to convert their superiority, letting two valuable points slip away.
Standings After Six Matchdays
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Al-Ansar – 18 pts
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Al-Ahed – 16 pts
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Safa – 16 pts
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Sagesse – 11 pts
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Tadamon Tyr – 10 pts
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Nejmeh – 7 pts
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Shabab Al-Sahel – 6 pts
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Al-Bourj – 5 pts
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Racing Beirut – 3 pts
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Riyadi Abbasiyé – 3 pts
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Shabab Baalbek – 3 pts
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Shabab Ghazieh – 2 pts
Next Matchday: A Turning Point for the Championship!
While Al-Ansar seems to be heading toward a possible title, Al-Ahed will have the chance to reignite the suspense in the next matchday.
A top-of-the-table clash between Al-Ansar and Al-Ahed is on the agenda—a duel that could reshape the title race!
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