Match Report

The Wolves leap-frogged USJ into fifth place after a routine victory over hapless AUST in Saturday’s noon kick off. The Lions, decimated following mass suspensions imposed by the LRLF following their ugly brawl with AUB in January, cut a sorry site, down to the bare minimum of players, and those doing their best impression of stragglers retreating from a war zone, with ripped and tattered blue AUST uniforms of various descriptions. To compound the defeat AUST even look like descending into negative points following a second violation of the league’s apparel regulations, which carries an automatic two-point deduction.

On the bright side, the team washed away some of the opprobrium following the AUB debacle after a brave, never-say-die performance against the Wolves. Their rearguard battled gamely, hitting back through the impressive Bahaa Halabi’s 30th minute try. The Wolves move onto six points and are in a three-way tie with USJ and AUB, two points behind Jounieh, but they have played at least a game more than their rivals.

Their match against USJ in the next round will be a little tougher following fullback Akram Al Chamaa’s red card for dissent late in the game. AUST will gratefully welcome back three suspended players, and will hope to have Najy Ramy, Mario Eid and boom prop Mario Abou Sabagh, all unavailable today, back in the line up to face a fresh Balamand.

Sent off: Akram Al Chamaa (Wolves)