The Nejmeh team won the first match of its semi-final series against Beirut Stars, after achieving a wide victory with a score of 5-1 at the High Military Center Stadium in the quadrennial tournament of the Lebanese First Division Futsal Championship, to advance in the series with a score of 1-0.
Al-Najma entered the match with great confidence, imposing its advantage from the first minutes through defensive solidity and clear control of the course of the game, at a time when Beirut Stars wasted several scoring opportunities. As opportunities continued to be missed, Al-Najma quickly punished its opponent when Steve Koczyan opened the scoring in the eighth minute.
Moments before the end of the first half, Giorgio El Khoury took advantage of a defensive error in passing the ball to score the second goal for Al-Najma in almost the last second, ending the first half with Al-Najma leading 2-0.
At the beginning of the second half, Beirut Stars tried to return to the atmosphere of the match and succeeded in reducing the difference to 2-1 through Ibrahim Allam, benefiting from an error committed by Al-Najma goalkeeper Giorgio Makhoul. The goal gave a morale boost to Beirut Stars, who intensified their pressure in search of an equaliser.
However, Al-Najma’s response was quick and decisive, as the team took advantage of the “Power Play” method to score Mustafa Al-Rahim the third goal in the 36th minute, a goal that practically eliminated Beirut Stars’ hopes of returning. John Jabour added the fourth goal in the 38th minute, before Mohsen Mohsen concluded the goal festival by scoring the fifth goal in the 39th minute.
The last minutes of the match witnessed a distinctive sporting moment, after Beirut Stars coach Mohamed Iskandarani asked his players to adhere to the principle of fair play one minute before the end.
With this victory, Al-Najma put one foot forward towards reaching the final by advancing 1-0 in the series, with the meeting between the two teams being renewed on Sunday at five o’clock in the evening, in a confrontation broadcast live on REDTV.
