League Play-Off

Mohammedia
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Essaouira Najah's Soubhi Hamdani started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Afalkay Ouaddou's late challenge caught a Essaouira Najah's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Afalkay Ouaddou helped the player get up and apologised. Essaouira Najah's Abdelali Talha got a good chance for a goal in the 6th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After some careless play in the Mohammedia defense, Soubhi Hamdani kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Massin Soulaimani. The Mohammedia fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Massin Soulaimani should have stopped the shot. In the 13th match minute, Mohammedia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ibrahim Belhaj to maneuver through the defense. Mohammedia's Massin Soulaimani played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Soubhi Hamdani in the 14th minute of play. Fatih Zairi was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 15 minutes into the match. The referee gave Mohammedia a penalty, 17 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Salim Chadli, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Essaouira Najah's Magher Benzakour. 1-1. After 20 minutes, Murad Kharbouchi mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Mohammedia and the Essaouira Najah players grew even worse after the yellow card. Rachad El Brazi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 26th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 30 minutes into the match, Essaouira Najah's goal looked a bit too open when Rachad El Brazi came free, but Magher Benzakour reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Abdelali Talha sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Mohammedia's Massin Soulaimani played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Abdelali Talha in the 41st minute of play. In the 47th minute of the match Badis Berkouch shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Massin Soulaimani showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Rachad El Brazi was the one to do the kick off. In the 52nd minute, Essaouira Najah's Abdelali Talha ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Massin Soulaimani. Massin Soulaimani yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-2. 59 minutes into the match, Essaouira Najah's Ridouane El Fatouaki sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Massin Soulaimani narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After a rather tough play, Mohammedia's Amestan Aissati got a free kick in the 62nd minute. Abdelali Talhas short, quick shot in the 64thth minute got Massin Soulaimani to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. 72 minutes into the match, Afra Aboub notched a goal, 2-2, to the right of Essaouira Najah's Magher Benzakour. Magher Benzakour was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. If Abdelali Talha had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Rachad El Brazi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 80th minute. Magher Benzakour tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Afra Aboub sent away a hard shot on goal in the 82nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Salaheddine Benjelloun during the 88th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to Essaouira Najah getting a freekick after 88 minutes play. Salaheddine Benjelloun hit a great ball. In the 92nd minute, Afra Aboub made a precise shot to the right of Magher Benzakour. Essaouira Najah's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-2. Essaouira Najah's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.