Futsal Planet

Libya vs Lebanon

OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT

by James Stringer from Tripoli

As the Libyan crowd started pouring into the 23rd of September Hall you could sense that something special was about to happen. The Support for the home nation has been phenomenal throughout the competition and the intimidating atmosphere created must have played a huge part on the result of this match. This is the first that that Lebanon have played in front of a crowd like this throughout the tournament and although they put up a valiant fight, they were unlucky to lose this game.

Lebanon started the match brightly and knocked the ball around with some quick and precise passing, but it was Libya who scored their first goal after only 18 seconds. Ayman Ibrahim Elshami robbed a Lebanon player and smashed it beyond El Kakhi Rabie Jamil to score the first goal of the game. Lebanon were guilty of missing two great chances to pull a goal back as Kawsan Kassem and Atwi Hayssam both fired straight at Mohamed Ali. Omer. Alsharif from just outside the box.

Lebanon really started to come back into the game and Atwi Hayssam was only stopped by a fantastic save from Mohamed Ali. Omer. Alsharif. Takaji Khaled got himself into a nice position to score but missed to the right as Mahamed Shahout fired over at the other end for Libya. Mohamed Rahoma Ahmed took a speculative shot from way out that hits the post and was gathered by El Kakhi Rabie Jamil.
Libya stamped their authority on the game even further by increasing their lead. Lebanon were finding it hard to break down the Libyan team on the ground and so tried some high balls over the top, from one of those Libya broke and Ayman Ibrahim Elshami flung a cross into the box for Mohamed Suleiman to convert the chance and give the home side a 2 – 0 lead. It didn’t last long though and suddenly Lebanon were back in the game through Takaji Khaled. The Lebanese player started the move from his own half, played a 1-2 with his team mate and then hammered a shot past ed Ali. Omer. Alsharif.
After the Lebanon goal Libya came back to life and had were unlucky not to increase their lead, going close on several occasions only to be denied by El Kakhi Rabie Jamil in the Lebanon goal.

Libya started the second half and this time Lebanon started without conceding in the first minute and almost equalized but for the quick thinking from Mohamed Ali. Omer. Alsharif. The game started to heat up a bit with some heavy challenges flying in from both sides. Mohamed Rahoma Ahmed and Hamdi Ismail Elshwain were both unlucky not to score for Libya as they increased the tempo of the game, shooting straight at El Kakhi Rabie Jamil. At the other end Kawsan Kassem broke away and had a shot tipped away by Mohamed Ali. Omer. Alsharif. Libya managed to get a third after robbing Lebanon in their own half and breaking at pace. Even though Takaji Khaled was frantically tracking back he couldn’t catch Ayman Ibrahim Elshami and the Libyan hammered it in off the post. Lebanon tried to get back into it as tani Mahmoud came close, just hitting it wide along with fellow countryman Hammoud Ibrahim.

Takaji Khaled was booked for taking down a Libyan as things started to open up a lot with Lebanon really going for it but constantly found themselves pinned back in their own half for the majority of the time. Libya were starting to let Lebanon have a bit more possession and allowing them to push forward in the hope of catching them on the break and it almost paid off as Mahamed Shahout sprinted through only to see his shot cannon back off the crossbar.

Libya’s Mohamed Rahoma Ahmed showed some lovely composure by spinning on the ball to leave the opponents reeling on the back foot. Hamdi Ismail Elshwain had a ferocious shot parried away by El Kakhi Rabie Jamil as they came forward with purpose. Takaji Khaled had a shot tipped wide and seconds later Mohamed Suleiman broke and piled a shot just wide of the near post.

Takaji Khaled has proved to be is so important to this team throughout this competition and his vision set up Hammoud Ibrahim to keep Lebanon in this game with only a few minutes remaining to play. Takaji Khaled had 2 chances to score for Lebanon before Libya broke and as El Kakhi Rabie Jamil lay off the pitch injured, Rabie A Abdelrahim somehow managed to miss an open goal.

That goal would have settled Libya’s nerves and instead the game was played out at high tempo in the last few minutes with both sides going all out for another goal, but as the seconds trickled away it was Libya who held on and secured their place into the semi-final.
Most valuable player Takaji Khaled said after the game “I think Croatia will win it, they have more discipline than Libya and they are a good side”.

Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com