League Play-Off

Syria
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Fahed Hanafy kicked off to start the match. Fahed Hanafy's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Zidan El-Ghandour read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 5th minute of play. After 6 minutes of play, Syria's Maher El-Sakka made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Zidan El-Ghandour was left in no man's land by his defense there! The audience held their breath when Khalil Alaa in the 14th minute of the game managed to trick the opponents defenses and fired away a shot outside the goal on the Abdel Hameed Mortada's left hand side. Abdel Wahab Nabil charged in rather forcefully in the 16th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Abdel Wahab Nabil the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 21 minutes, Kamouna Baher mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Syria and the Bakhati players grew even worse after the yellow card. Kamouna Baher kicked well hit freekick during the 21st minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fahed Hanafy in the 26th minute of play forced Bakhati's goalkeeper Zidan El-Ghandour to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Hashem Hossam took the ball and in the 32 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Abdel Hameed Mortada. Abdel Hameed Mortada dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-1. After a rather tough play, Bakhati's Walid Besheer got a free kick in the 35th minute. In the 41st minute, Maher El-Sakka ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Zidan El-Ghandour was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-1. Hashem Hossam sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Syria's Maher El-Sakka got a good chance for a goal in the 47th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 2-1 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Moamen Deyaa made a kick off. Gamal Moamen hit a great freekick 54 minutes into the match. After a defensive mix-up in Syria's zone, Moamen Deyaa stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Abdel Hameed Mortada came out of the goal and Moamen Deyaa tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The supporters of Syria booed when Bakhati was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 63 match minutes in a wonderful position. Walid Besheer didn't get a good kick on the ball. Bakhati's Zidan El-Ghandour played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Maher El-Sakka in the 66th minute of play. Abdel Hameed Mortada took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Moamen Deyaa, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Moamen Deyaa blasted a shot towards the goal in the 72nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Abdel Hameed Mortada having to make a save. In the 75thth minute of the game Maher El-Sakka who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Bakhati's Zidan El-Ghandour was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. If Fahed Hanafy had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 85th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 88th minute of the match Fares Bahaa sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Zidan El-Ghandour skillfully saved the ball. In the 92nd minute, Moamen Deyaa got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.