League Play-Off

Gastonia
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Hameur Benhabiles made the kick off and thus started the match. In the 3rd minute, Menad Assad 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. Menad Assad could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 6th minute of the match, but Belaid Ghozali made a huge save. Rachid Abbas struck a weak shot in the 10th minute. Mouloud Zidān didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Shamrock Rovers. Hameur Benhabiles sent away a hard shot on goal in the 11th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 13th minute, Rachid Abbas hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 18 minutes into the match, Rachid Abbas notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Gastonia's Mouloud Zidān. Mouloud Zidān was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. If Rachid Abbas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 25th minute, Rabah Guessoum hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Mouloud Zidān stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Hameur Benhabiles's shot from short distance in the 27th minute. The supporters of Shamrock Rovers booed when Gastonia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 31 match minutes in a wonderful position. Abderrachid Khelaifia didn't get a good kick on the ball. Hameur Benhabiles sent away a hard shot on goal in the 33rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Rachid Abbas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 43rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 46thth minute of the game Hameur Benhabiles who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Gastonia's Mouloud Zidān was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Menad Assad in the 47thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Belaid Ghozali, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. 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 players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Karim Assad was the one to do the kick off. Shamrock Rovers's Hameur Benhabiles got a good chance for a goal in the 51st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a rather tough play, Shamrock Rovers's Fodil Deghmani got a free kick in the 53rd minute. Karim Assad fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 54th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Belaid Ghozali having to interfere. Menad Assad received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 56th minute. Belaid Ghozali tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Rachid Abbas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Rachid Abbas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 69th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. After a rather tough play, Shamrock Rovers's Zīn ud-Dīn Bahari got a free kick in the 73rd minute. Abderrachid Khelaifia hit a great freekick 76 minutes into the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Hameur Benhabiles in the 78th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Mouloud Zidān saved Gastonia from getting behind. An unexpected shot in the 79th minute by Rachid Abbas got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Mouloud Zidān showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Hameur Benhabiles in the 81st minute of the match. Mouloud Zidān took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Hameur Benhabiles, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Rachid Abbas who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 86thth minute tested the skills of Mouloud Zidān when he managed to save the team from getting behind. In the 87th minute, Abderrachid Khelaifia hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 90th minute Menad Assad shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Belaid Ghozali saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Hameur Benhabiles in the 95th minute of play forced Gastonia's goalkeeper Mouloud Zidān to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball.