League Play-Off

Rackenford
Spectators: 38 (Terracing: 29, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Yasser Taiban made the kick off and thus started the match. Faisal Khorshed who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 5thth minute tested the skills of Qais Mandane when he managed to save the team from getting behind. After 7 minutes, Salim Al Banwan mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Rothwell and the Rackenford players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Rothwell's Salim Al Banwan got a free kick in the 7th minute. Qasem Shabakhoh took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ayman Al Ghanem, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Mohammad Al Fadhalah recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 13th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. During the 14th minute of the match Salim Al Banwan completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Salim Al Banwan a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. After 15 played minutes Rothwell got a freekick which was hit by Salim Al Banwan. 16 minutes into the match, Rackenford's Faisal Khorshed sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Qais Mandane narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 20th minute the ball was on its way in behind Rothwell's goalkeeper Qais Mandane, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After some careless play in the Rackenford defense, Mohammad Al Fadhalah kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Qasem Shabakhoh. The Rackenford fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Qasem Shabakhoh should have stopped the shot. In the 33rd minute Hamdan Al Asuosi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Qais Mandane saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 34 played minutes Rothwell got a freekick which was hit by Ayman Al Ghanem. 36 minutes into the game, Hamdan Al Asuosi cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Qais Mandane was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. When Faisal Khorshed came up free with the goalie in the 39th minute, the Rackenford 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 Faisal Khorshed couldn't finish the play. 45 minutes into the match, Rothwell's goal looked a bit too open when Zaher Shadad came free, but Qais Mandane reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Hamdan Al Asuosi stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute Faisal Khorshed shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Qais Mandane saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Faisal Khorshed came up free with the goalie in the 54th minute, the Rackenford 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 Faisal Khorshed couldn't finish the play. Thanks to some nice moves Mohammad Al Fadhalah could shoot a difficult shot in the 56th minute, which Qasem Shabakhoh however easily saved by the left post. Yasser Taiban fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 58th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Qasem Shabakhoh having to interfere. Rackenford's Qasem Shabakhoh proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 60th minute of the match, managed to save Rackenford from getting a goal against them. After having played for 68 minutes, Faisal Khorshed managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Rackenford's supporters crossed their fingers, but Faisal Khorshed was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Faisal Khorshed received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 69th minute. Qais Mandane tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Rothwell getting a freekick after 70 minutes play. Ayman Al Ghanem hit a great ball. Shjae Al Holey, 74 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. In the 77th minute, Faisal Khorshed 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. Abdul Mohsen Al Wazan hit a great freekick 78 minutes into the match. The audience was convinced that Hamdan Al Asuosi's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Qais Mandane was relentless in the 81st minute of the game. Hamdan Al Asuosi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 89th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Qais Mandane showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Faisal Khorshed, who was totally free with the ball in the 93rd minute. After having played for 95 minutes, Faisal Khorshed managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Rackenford's supporters crossed their fingers, but Faisal Khorshed was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right 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.