League Play-Off

Crestline
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, 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. Abdel Karim Assad started the match with the kick off. Abdel Karim Assad struck a weak shot in the 4th minute. Salim Merah-Benida didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Crestline AFC. In the 7th minute Abdel Karim Assad shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Salim Merah-Benida saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Safy Rahouli struck a weak shot in the 13th minute. Abdelhamid Khabatou didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Calexico AFC. Salim Merah-Benida made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Abdel Karim Assad in the 16th minute of play. When the match had gone on for 20 minutes, Abdel Karim Assad took a quick shot and it went in 1-0 without a chance for Salim Merah-Benida to make any attempt to save it. Abdelhamid Khabatou showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Safy Rahouli, who was totally free with the ball in the 24th minute. Knodi Ziani kicked well hit freekick during the 31st minute of the match. In the 31st minute of the match Ferhat Seghiri sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Salim Merah-Benida skillfully saved the ball. Salim Merah-Benida stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Abdel Karim Assad's shot from short distance in the 33rd minute. Crestline AFC's Amrani Saci pulled a muscle in his back after 35 minutes and couldn't finish the game. After 35 minutes, Ahmed Ghazi mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Calexico AFC and the Crestline AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Calexico AFC's Ahmed Ghazi got a free kick in the 36th minute. 40 minutes into the match, Calexico AFC's goalkeeper Salim Merah-Benida had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Thelma Saadane. Safy Rahouli 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. In the 44th match minute, Crestline AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Abdel Karim Assad to maneuver through the defense. After a defensive mix-up in Crestline AFC's zone, Safy Rahouli stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Abdelhamid Khabatou came out of the goal and Safy Rahouli tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When Calexico AFC's Assia Otman in the 48th minute got a chance for a shot 48th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Crestline AFC's goalie prevented a goal. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Safy Rahouli stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Salim Merah-Benida showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mustapha Saïd-Guerni, who was totally free with the ball in the 52nd minute. 53 minutes into the match, Crestline AFC's Thelma Saadane sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Salim Merah-Benida narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 54th minute, Thelma Saadane managed to get in a good position for a shot. Crestline AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Thelma Saadane was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Salim Merah-Benida breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Calexico AFC's Assia Otman got a good chance for a goal in the 57th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Thelma Saadane struck a weak shot in the 62nd minute. Salim Merah-Benida didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Crestline AFC. Abdelhamid Khabatou was out of position in the 66 minute of play, and Knodi Ziani capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Knodi Ziani really showed his touch with that goal: 1-1. Thelma Saadane sent away a hard shot on goal in the 71st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 76 minutes of play, Crestline AFC's Thelma Saadane made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Salim Merah-Benida was left in no man's land by his defense there! An unexpectedly hard shot by Safy Rahouli in the 80th minute of play forced Crestline AFC's goalkeeper Abdelhamid Khabatou to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 94th minute, Assia Otman 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.