League Play-Off

Essaouira Elmalaab L
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Azizi Chamakh got the match started through his kick off. Moustafa Amchaibou received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 4th minute. Zuhair Lamin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 7 minutes into the match, Moustafa Amchaibou had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Zuhair Lamin. Essaouira's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Moustafa Amchaibou was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. Azizi Chamakh sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Nabil Belabed received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 22nd minute. Anaruz Nouhass tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 24 minutes into the match, Beni Mellal's Rachad Taouil sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Zuhair Lamin narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After a rather tough play, Beni Mellal's Rachad Taouil got a free kick in the 25th minute. Azizi Chamakh might have been able to make a better finish in the 27th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Anaruz Nouhass. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Azizi Chamakh ran back to his position shaking his head. Azizi Chamakh's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Anaruz Nouhass read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 27th minute of play. Rachad Taouil received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 30th minute. Zuhair Lamin tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Essaouira getting a freekick after 31 minutes play. Ayman El Kaddouri hit a great ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 36th minute, Nabil Belabed managed to get in a good position for a shot. Essaouira's supporters rose to their feet, but Nabil Belabed was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Anaruz Nouhass breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Massinissa Bagui sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Moustafa Amchaibou sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Rachad Taouil to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Nasri Chakhssi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 54th match minute, Beni Mellal was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Izri Didouh to maneuver through the defense. Nabil Belabed fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 61st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Anaruz Nouhass having to interfere. Azizi Chamakh's late challenge caught a Beni Mellal's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Azizi Chamakh helped the player get up and apologised. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nabil Belabed in the 69th minute of play forced Beni Mellal's goalkeeper Anaruz Nouhass to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Zuhair Lamin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rachad Taouil, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After having played for 75 minutes, Rachad Taouil managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Beni Mellal's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rachad Taouil was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Moustafa Amchaibou sent away a hard shot on goal in the 85th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 89th minute Nabil Belabed shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Anaruz Nouhass saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A hard shot 93 in the game by Moustafa Amchaibou from a close distance when the talented Zuhair Lamin managed to make a qualified save. Essaouira's players were relieved. Beni Mellal's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.