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Sta 9 Oct 8:00PM Tripoli International Stadium |
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| LEBANON |
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FRANCE |
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Tries
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| A. El Masri (3), J. Lichaa (2), C. Farrah, T. Nicolas. | C. Calegary (2), V. Almuzara. |
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Goals
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| S. El Masri 7/7 | T. Bosc 0/2 G. Mounis 1/1 |
MATCH REPORT:
The France Lebanon contest that was the main event of the evening kicked off almost immediately with more of the same. The Lebanese laid down a marker as Ahmed Al Masri streaked in to score the first of his three tries in the first minute of the game. His performance earned him the man of the tournament award. The tension was increased after captain Joe Lichaa went in to score after 10 minutes, taking the score to 12-0. Kicker Samer El Masri was living up to the El Masri name as he notched 7 of 7 goals for the night. The two highly charged sides came to blows after a high shot, but Referee Pascal Mombet was quick to seize control of the situation, sin-binning a player from either side and cautioning both captains that further infringements would result in red cards.
A try in the 20th minute by Christophe Calegary looked to stop the rot, but Charlie Farrah went in eight minutes later to keep the pressure on France. Calegary responded again 3 minutes later, but Thomas Bosc’s kicking game wasn’t finding its rhythm, missing both the first half conversions. 18-8 seemed to offer some hope for France but Frank Samia showed some individual brilliance as he received the ball at walking pace, then exploded to his left and stiff armed away a French defender, before racing away to put in Ahmed Al Masri for his second of the night. Joe Lichaa added to French woes scoring two minutes later, almost on the whistle to leave France trailing 30-8 at the half.
The second half was much tighter, notable for tough defence and more forced errors, as the French often tried to force the play wide. They contained the explosive Lebanese attack for the first 22 minutes of the second half before fullback Toufiq Nicolas was released to score under the posts. Ahmed Al Masri completed his hatrick before Almuzara scored on the fulltime whistle to give France some consolation.
The Lebanese flanks proved to have too much speed and guile for the French to cope with and little Anthony Farrah in the middle of the park was quick to exploit any opportunities he saw developing.