In a gripping tournament match held at the Fouad Chehab Stadium on 8th December 2024, TFA Talents Football Academy triumphed over Challengers Lebanon with a scoreline of 2-1. The match kicked off at 9:00 am, showcasing a blend of skill and determination from both sides, but it was TFA Talents who emerged victorious in this closely contested affair.
TFA Talents adopted a 2-3-3 formation, which allowed for a dynamic interplay between defence and attack. Charbel Mikhael stood guard as the goalkeeper, while Ralph Dahdouh and Anthony Boufadel formed a solid central defensive partnership. The midfield trio consisted of Charbel Abdo on the right, Peter Toubia in the centre, and Lucas Raii on the left, providing both width and creativity. Up front, Hussein Nazzal and Georgio Mitri operated as right and left forwards respectively, supporting striker Ibrahim Yassin, who was tasked with leading the line and finishing chances.
The substitutes for TFA Talents included Elie Assaf, Matheo Zoghbi, Charbel Awad, Ryan Bou Kheir, and Jay Nassar, all of whom would play crucial roles as the match unfolded.
The match began with an early foul by Peter Toubia in the fifth minute, setting the tone for a fiercely contested encounter. Just four minutes later, Charbel Abdo was penalised for a push, but the TFA defence held firm, with Mikhael making an interception shortly thereafter to maintain the status quo.
In the 11th minute, Georgio Mitri came agonisingly close to scoring, hitting the post with a powerful effort that left the crowd gasping. This near miss prompted a substitution as Matheo Zoghbi replaced Charbel Abdo, followed by another change with Hussein Nazzal making way for Elie Assaf.
As the match progressed, Elie Assaf found himself in the thick of the action, committing a foul for holding in the 13th minute, but Mikhael was quick to respond with a full-stretch save to deny the opposition. Matheo Zoghbi then had a shot saved in the 14th minute, showcasing TFA's attacking intent.
The first half continued with a series of fouls, including another obstruction by Assaf and a wide attempt from Lucas Raii. The substitutions continued to flow as Charbel Abdo returned to the pitch, replacing Zoghbi, while Charbel Awad came on for Ralph Dahdouh.
As the half drew to a close, Elie Assaf made a crucial clearance in the 23rd minute, demonstrating his defensive prowess. The first half ended with both teams still searching for the breakthrough, but TFA Talents were clearly gaining momentum.
The second half began with a twist as an own goal from a Challengers Lebanon player in the 27th minute gifted TFA Talents the lead. Shortly after, Georgio Mitri scored a well-deserved goal in the 29th minute, assisted by Matheo Zoghbi, doubling TFA's advantage.
However, the Challengers responded quickly, with an own goal from TFA Talents in the 31st minute, courtesy of Ralph Dahdouh's assist, bringing the score to 2-1. The match continued to ebb and flow, with Ibrahim Yassin making attempts to extend the lead, but his efforts were thwarted.
As the game approached its final stages, Matheo Zoghbi made a key pass in the 37th minute, creating a chance for Yassin, who had another shot saved shortly after. The intensity heightened as Lucas Raii received a yellow card for a bad tackle in the 39th minute, followed by another key pass from Zoghbi just before Yassin scored a stunning goal with his right foot in the 42nd minute, restoring TFA's two-goal cushion.
The match saw further fouls and substitutions, with Charbel Abdo receiving a charge foul in the 46th minute. Mikhael continued to shine in goal, making a full-stretch save in the 48th minute to keep the lead intact.
As the match drew to a close, yellow cards were issued to Anthony Boufadel and Peter Toubia, reflecting the competitive nature of the encounter. Ultimately, TFA Talents held on to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory, with Ibrahim Yassin earning the accolade of Player of the Match for his pivotal contributions.
