League Play-Off

Essex
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, 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. Yacine Bencheikh started the match with the kick off. Ali Khalef made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Yacine Bencheikh in the 3rd minute of play. Hamid Aarache who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 4thth minute tested the skills of Ahmed Douibi when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Ali Khalef showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Yacine Bencheikh, who was totally free with the ball in the 8th minute. Ali Khalef showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Yacine Bencheikh, who was totally free with the ball in the 10th minute. In the 10th minute, Abderaouf Bouzid hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Cheb Megharia kicked well hit freekick during the 15th minute of the match. 18 minutes into the match, Essex FC's Hamid Aarache sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ahmed Douibi narrowly saved just below the crossbar. If Fawzi Djamel had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 23rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. A collision led to Essex FC getting a freekick after 25 minutes play. Abderaouf Bouzid hit a great ball. If Yacine Bencheikh had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 27th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Yacine Bencheikh came up free with the goalie in the 30th minute, the Merkel AFC 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 Yacine Bencheikh couldn't finish the play. Hamid Aarache's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 33rdth minute, Ahmed Douibi skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. After 36 played minutes Essex FC got a freekick which was hit by Abd al-Aziz Prévost. Hamid Aarache might have been able to make a better finish in the 39th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ahmed Douibi. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Hamid Aarache ran back to his position shaking his head. Cheb Megharia recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 42nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Hamid Aarache fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 43rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ahmed Douibi having to interfere. 45 minutes into the match, Merkel AFC's goalkeeper Ahmed Douibi had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Hamid Aarache.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Cheb Megharia made a kick off. In the 54th minute the ball was on its way in behind Essex FC's goalkeeper Ali Khalef, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 59 minutes into the game, Abd al-Aziz Prévost was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Essex FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Merkel AFC the free kick. 60 minutes into the match, Essex FC's goalkeeper Ali Khalef had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Fawzi Djamel. If Cheb Megharia had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ahmed Douibi showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Hamid Aarache, who was totally free with the ball in the 65th minute. Zoheir Liegeon charged in rather forcefully in the 66th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Zoheir Liegeon the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Zoheir Liegeon kicked well hit freekick during the 66th minute of the match. With his leg Ali Khalef managed to avoid a goal in the 69thth minute, when Merkel AFC's Assia Ahmed fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Abd al-Aziz Prévost hit a great freekick 70 minutes into the match. Merkel AFC's attack was well implemented in the 71st minute, but when Fawzi Djamel was about to shoot he didn't get a good hit on the ball and it hit the crossbar and flew over. Goal Kick. 73 minutes into the match, Merkel AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Hamid Aarache came free, but Ahmed Douibi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ahmed Douibi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cheb Megharia, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 79 minutes into the match, Abderaouf Bouzid had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Ahmed Douibi. Merkel AFC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Abderaouf Bouzid was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. Yacine Bencheikh fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 86th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ali Khalef having to interfere. Fawzi Djamel in the 87thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Ali Khalef, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Meziane Hamid Brahima charged in rather forcefully in the 89th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Meziane Hamid Brahima the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 88 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Essex FC! Djamel Chaib shot the penalty kick by force right in the crossbar. No goal. Ahmed Douibi showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cheb Megharia, who was totally free with the ball in the 95th minute. Yacine Bencheikh received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Ali Khalef came out and tried to block the shot, but Yacine Bencheikh slotted it home off the left post making it 1-1 in the 97th minute. Jeers came from both ends of the stadium when the final whistle went. Neither team had looked impressive and the draw seeemd a fair result.