League Play-Off

New Haven
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Yacine Hadjadj made the kick off and thus started the match. The audience was convinced that Abd al-Asis Cherrad's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Ahmed Baroudi was relentless in the 5th minute of the game. With a little luck, Cowpens FC's Ahmed Baroudi got control of the ball when Rachid Djebbour tried to sneak it across the goal line. After having played for 8 minutes, Mohamed Kheyari managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Cowpens FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Mohamed Kheyari was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Yacine Hadjadj had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 12th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ali Hima kicked well hit freekick during the 13th minute of the match. Cowpens FC's defense didn't have a chance, in the 19th minute, when Abd al-Asis Cherrad scored to the left of an out of position Ahmed Baroudi, making the score, 1-0. When Abdelnasser Soltani fell near the penalty area in the 25th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored New Haven's protests and gave Abdelnasser Soltani a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to New Haven getting a freekick after 25 minutes play. Abdelnasser Soltani hit a great ball. After recieving a nice pass, Cowpens FC's Khalida Bella tried to score from far away in the 26th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. In a very dangerous position, a player in New Haven fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 27th minute. Penalty! 39 minutes into the match, New Haven's goal looked a bit too open when Yacine Hadjadj came free, but Tayeb Mérah-Benida reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mohamed Kheyari fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tayeb Mérah-Benida having to interfere. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Rachid Djebbour stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Ferhat Baroudi charged in rather forcefully in the 54th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Ferhat Baroudi the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Ali Hima during the 60th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, New Haven's Ali Hima got a free kick in the 60th minute. In the 61st minute Yacine Hadjadj shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tayeb Mérah-Benida saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Yacine Hadjadj fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 62nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tayeb Mérah-Benida having to interfere. Mohamed Kheyari struck a weak shot in the 65th minute. Tayeb Mérah-Benida didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Cowpens FC. New Haven's Tayeb Mérah-Benida played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Yacine Hadjadj in the 69th minute of play. After having played for 70 minutes, Rachid Djebbour managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. New Haven's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rachid Djebbour was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Rachid Djebbour fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 74th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ahmed Baroudi having to interfere. In the 77th minute Yacine Hadjadj shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tayeb Mérah-Benida saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 81 played minutes New Haven got a freekick which was hit by Ali Hima. Yacine Hadjadj fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tayeb Mérah-Benida having to interfere. Khalida Merbah kicked well hit freekick during the 87th minute of the match. Yacine Hadjadj sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Rachid Djebbour had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 93rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 97 minutes, Hamid Nima mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the New Haven and the Cowpens FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 97 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for New Haven!