Libyan Premier League: Al Ahli Tripoli dominate derby as playoff surpasses midway point

The third round of the Libyan Premier League Championship Playoff took place in Milan, Italy, featuring three matches in the race for the domestic title.

Al Ahli Tripoli 4–1 Al Ittihad: Derby Delight in Milan

Al Ahli Tripoli produced a stunning performance to overpower their rivals Al Ittihad with a 4-1 victory in the derby clash of the round.

The game exploded into life from the very first minute. A lightning-fast attack saw Muaid Ellafi release Hamdou Elhouni down the wing, whose precise cross found Ismail Belkacemi, and the forward made no mistake with a clinical finish to give Ahli the lead.

Ittihad responded almost immediately. Just three minutes later, defender Taher Amer equalized with a powerful header, leveling the score at 1-1.

Ahli regained the advantage in the 57th minute when Mohamed Al-Ajnaf received a pass from Elhouni, dribbled past the defense, and fired home a low strike to make it 2-1.

Eight minutes later, Ellafi turned scorer, converting a cross from Elhouni into the net, as Ittihad’s defense faltered once again. The fourth goal came in bizarre fashion — Moroccan midfielder Mohamed Zrida misjudged a back pass intended for goalkeeper Muad Ellafi, who was out of position, resulting in an own goal.

The tension then boiled over. Referee Giovanni Ayroldi showed red cards to Ahli Tripoli’s Mourad Al-Hodhali and Ittihad keeper Moaaz Ellafi after an incident that saw Ellafi refuse to leave the field and then charge toward Ahli’s substitutes behind the goal, sparking a chaotic scuffle between both teams. Play was halted for an extended period until order was restored.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Ittihad were awarded a penalty after a shot from Noufel Zerhouni struck a defender’s arm inside the wall. After a VAR review, Zerhouni took the spot kick himself but saw his effort bounce off the post, sealing a memorable 4-1 win for Ahli Tripoli.

Al Ahly Benghazi 2–0 Swehly: Sanino Era Begins with Victory

In Giuseppe Sanino’s debut on the touchline, Ahly Benghazi secured their first points of the playoff round with a 2-0 win over Swehly.

The first half ended goalless despite chances for both sides, but Al Ahly Benghazi looked more composed after the break. Their persistence paid off when striker Arok broke the deadlock.

Shoaib Bin Suleiman added the second to cap off a strong performance and hand Sanino a winning start, while Swehly remained bottom of the table with just one point after three games.

Al Hilal 2–2 Al Akhdar: Drama and VAR Define Entertaining Draw

Hilal and Al Akhdar shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw that had plenty of twists, including a VAR-reviewed goal and a late equalizer.

Hilal struck first through Talha Rizk and looked the stronger side for most of the opening half-hour. Al Akhdar thought they had equalized through Bonny, but the goal was initially ruled out for offside. A VAR check, however, overturned the decision, confirming the goal.

Al Akhdar then went ahead just before halftime, as Sandy found the net in the 44th minute, giving them a 2-1 lead at the break.

Hilal pushed hard in the second half, dominating chances. Their persistence paid off in the closing minutes when they were awarded a penalty, coolly converted by Faisal Al Badri to secure a point.

Standings After Matchday 3 in Libyan Premier League Championship Phase