Safa Lost The Lebanese Cup to Shabab Sahel

Safa lost the 28th Lebanese Cup title to Shabab Sahel via the penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie between the two teams at Beirut Municipal Stadium on Sunday. Sunday, second of April, year 2000 will be a day to remember for Sahel fans, the day in which they witnessed their players lifting the first ever title to add a new name on the list of Cup Winners.

In general, Safa appeared in a better shape then its opponent specially in the offence, regardless the forwards' product and effect. The last 3 minutes of first half was a crazy period in which Safa had two chances to open the score:A wonderful pass from Safa's left wing Chadi Al-Chami to Ahmad Al- Naamani who delivered it next the near post. In the last minute Naamani waisted a real chance to score for Safa when he lost control over the ball inside the box in front the goalkeeper Hassan Moussa.

In the second half, Safa pushed forward to open the score and the yellow achieved their goal in the sixty first minute from a corner kick delivered by Nabih Al-Jerdi to Naamani who headed it across to find Marius Pietnick who fired it with right foot volley leaving goalkeeper Moussa helpless. Moussa himself cleared off the line another ball from Pietnick in the 65th. One minute later Jerdi crossed the ball to Homsi who put it next to the post. In the 75th minute Sahel had a fast break and equalized when the midfielder Jihad Kassab pass the ball to Adnan Mohamed who put it in one touch in the far post to give Sahel a 1-1 draw.

The first period of the overtime run out slowly without real chances, but in the second period, Safa had two chances to score but the free kick of Kamokai Kallon went in front the goal looking for any player to pick it up. The last chance for Safa in the match, created by Homsi and cleared by the left post of Moussa's cage.

The penalties' result gave Sahel the victory 5-4 and the trophy after Khodor Salameh and Chadi Al-Chami missed their penalties.

Sahel players received the trophy from Lebanese Football Federation's Chief Dr.Nabil Al-Raii during the ceremony holding after the match.

First Half: 0-0, Second Half: 1-1, Extra Time: 1-1, Penalties: 3-4

Starting Lineup: Bilal Hachem- Kamokai Kallon, Youssef Mohamed, Walid Al-Miri- Nabih Al-Jerdi, Chadi Al-Chami, Ali Mohamed, Ahmad Al-Naamani, Lawrence Uzuma- Marius Pietnick, Abdallah Al-Homsi.

Substitutions: Walid Dahrouj for Marius Pietnick, Khodor Salameh for Ali Mohamed and Nabil Chaikho for Ahmad Al-Naamani .

Copyright � 2000 Al-Safa Sporting Club. All rights reserved.