League Play-Off

Merkel
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Jean-Michel Saadane started the match with the kick off. In the 5thth minute of the game Benamar Fillali who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Merkel's Madhi Kraouche was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Benamar Fillali received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 10th minute. Madhi Kraouche tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 16 minutes into the match, Grand Island AFC's Hamid Bouteflika sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Madhi Kraouche narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Hamid Bouteflika sent away a hard shot on goal in the 17th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Rabah Mehenni charged in rather forcefully in the 18th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Rabah Mehenni the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 18 played minutes Merkel got a freekick which was hit by Rabah Mehenni. In the 21stth minute of the game Hamid Bouteflika who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Merkel's Madhi Kraouche was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Hamid Bouteflika fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 22nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Madhi Kraouche having to interfere. After a rather tough play, Merkel's Zīn ud-Dīn Apap got a free kick in the 24th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Benamar Fillali in the 26th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Madhi Kraouche prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Meziane Schoonmaker's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Jean-Michel Abdenouz read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 31st minute of play. Jussef Bellemou Messaoud charged in rather forcefully in the 33rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Jussef Bellemou Messaoud the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Jussef Bellemou Messaoud hit a great freekick 33 minutes into the match. Hemza Hadjadj, 33 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. After 39 minutes, Abd al-Asis Sellal mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Grand Island AFC and the Merkel players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Grand Island AFC getting a freekick after 39 minutes play. Abd al-Asis Sellal hit a great ball. If Jean-Michel Saadane had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 40th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 48th minute, Jean-Michel Saadane reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Jean-Michel Abdenouz. The goal made the score 1-0.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Hamid Bouteflika was the one to do the kick off. When Meziane Schoonmaker came up free with the goalie in the 58th minute, the Merkel fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Meziane Schoonmaker couldn't finish the play. In the 63rd minute, Jean-Michel Saadane left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Merkel fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-0. In the 67th match minute, Merkel was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Fodil Bouziane to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 68th minute, Hamid Bouteflika managed to get in a good position for a shot. Grand Island AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Hamid Bouteflika was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Madhi Kraouche breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Hamid Bouteflika might have been able to make a better finish in the 69th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Madhi Kraouche. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Hamid Bouteflika ran back to his position shaking his head. With his leg Madhi Kraouche managed to avoid a goal in the 71stth minute, when Grand Island AFC's Hamid Bouteflika fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Hamid Bouteflika sent away a hard shot on goal in the 83rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Hamid Bouteflika recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 89th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If Hamid Bouteflika had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Hamid Bouteflika received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 96th minute. Madhi Kraouche tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. For all the effort they put into the match, the Grand Island AFC players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Merkel.