Safa, Ansar slip up in opening round

The Lebanese Football League began in earnest at the weekend and with it came a series of topsy-turvy results that disrupted the favored sides’ title aspirations and added intrigue to the months that lie ahead. The surprises began with Safa’s shock 1-0 defeat to new boys Akhaa al-Ahli Aley Friday, which spelled a second loss for the defending champions in as many weeks after their Super Cup disappointment to Al-Ansar.Their conqueror’s followed suit Sunday, slipping up against Tripoli after a fourth minute goal by Brazilian defender Sebastiao Ramos had seemingly put the 13-time champions on course for a routine win. Tripoli replied with an equalizer through Mohammad Rida, who utilized Marcelo Moscateli’s through ball to convert a straightforward chance. Ansar bullied their guests for large periods of the match and nearly came away with all three points when Ramos’s 89th minute header crashed off the woodwork. Tripoli fought diligently though and ultimately were rewarded with an unlikely draw. Ansar’s wastefulness must have been music to the ears of bitter rivals Nejmeh, and Moussa Hojiejj’s side took full advantage with a 7-1 thumping of Shabab al-Ghazieh. A second minute strike from Hassan al-Mohammad ignited the rout, with the youngster going on to bag four goals in a performance that has undoubtedly put the rest of the league on alert. Fabio Da Silva doubled Nejmeh’s lead, adding another on 30 minutes to put his team out of sight. Nejmeh though, were far from finished, with the prolific Mohammad making it two goals for the half with a rifled effort into the roof of the goal moments before halftime. Some 15 minutes into the second period, a slalom run into the Ghazieh box saw Mohamad complete his hat trick, with the pacey forward striking a clean effort into the bottom corner. Just four minutes later, Ali al-Saad offered Ghazieh a consolation with a fierce strike from outside the box. Zakaria Sharara’s impressive solo effort on 77 minutes added further embarrassment to Ghazieh’s day Mohammad put the final touch on a magnificent display when he lobbed the keeper for Nejmeh’s seventh and the youngster’s fourth. Saturday saw another title challenger register their first win, with Ahed prevailing 2-1 over newly promoted Ijtimaa Tripoli. Following a dull first half, Ahed came flying out with a Abbas Ali Atwi screamer that sailed into the top corner. Ijtimaa, gracing the top flight for the first time in 20 years, battled back admirably and leveled things on 56 minutes, after Mohammad Abid’s corner was powerfully headed into the net by Fayez Chamsine. Chamsine’s goal breathed life into the side and they frustrated Ahed for much of the second half with some obdurate defending. But on 89 minutes referee Ali Sabagh spoiled an entertaining afternoon with an unforgivable penalty decision, after a Hassan Chaito dive in the box was incorrectly deemed illegal. Hussein Dakik stepped up and buried his shot to the right of the keeper to rob Ijtimaa of a much-deserved point. Elsewhere, the sour derby between Tadamon and Salam ended in a 3-1 victory for Tadamon, with a stoppage time effort from Kone Ladji Tiezan ensuring victory. Meanwhile, Racing suffered a 1-0 loss to Shabab al-Sahel following a wonder strike from Ulysse Diallo. From DailyStar