League Play-Off

Neptune City
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Abdelaziz Benbitour got the match started through his kick off. Hakim Soltani might have been able to make a better finish in the 8th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Nasserredine Harkouk. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Hakim Soltani ran back to his position shaking his head. After 14 minutes, Faouzi Bridji mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Phoenix and the Neptune City FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. The nice shot from Hakim Soltani in the 17thth minute just in front of the goal should have ended in point on the board, but Nasserredine Harkouk had a great feel for the game and superbly saved the ball from getting in by the left post. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Hachemi Ziani during the 17th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Ali Zitouni struck a weak shot in the 18th minute. Nasserredine Harkouk didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Neptune City FC. Faouzi Bridji got his second yellow card in the match during the 20th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. Cheb Mamouni was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 22nd played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. In the 26th minute, Phoenix's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Ali Zitouni fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. After 28 minutes, Ali Aboulker mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Neptune City FC and the Phoenix players grew even worse after the yellow card. Ali Aboulker hit a great freekick 28 minutes into the match. Nasserredine Harkouk made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ali Zitouni in the 30th minute of play. In the 32nd minute, Ali Zitouni 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. Hachemi Ziani was shown his second yellow card after 36 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. Hachemi Ziani hit a great freekick 37 minutes into the match. Mansour Chebal showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Abdelaziz Benbitour, who was totally free with the ball in the 43rd minute. After 44 played minutes Phoenix got a freekick which was hit by Boudjemaa Madani. 47 minutes into the match, Phoenix's goal looked a bit too open when Ali Zitouni came free, but Nasserredine Harkouk reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Ali Zitouni was the one to do the kick off. After a rather tough play, Phoenix's Abdelaziz Benbitour got a free kick in the 51st minute. When Neptune City FC's Ali Zitouni in 52 game minutes managed to cut through with the ball in front of the goal, only having to shoot. Nasserredine Harkouk guarding the goal like a pit bull was extremely focused and managed to reach the ball just by the crossbar before it went in. Hakim Soltani fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 58th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nasserredine Harkouk having to interfere. Hakim Soltani's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Nasserredine Harkouk read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 60th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ali Zitouni in the 70th minute of play forced Phoenix's goalkeeper Nasserredine Harkouk to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Phoenix's Mehdi Drioueche got a good chance for a goal in the 77th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ali Zitouni in the 81st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Nasserredine Harkouk prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Fadel Liegeon's late challenge caught a Phoenix's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Fadel Liegeon helped the player get up and apologised. After 92 minutes, Abdel Karim Hamruche mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Neptune City FC and the Phoenix players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 92 played minutes Neptune City FC got a freekick which was hit by Abdel Karim Hamruche. Nasserredine Harkouk showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Hakim Soltani, who was totally free with the ball in the 95th minute. Abdelaziz Benbitour hit a great freekick 95 minutes into the match. Both teams had looked equal from kick-off, and no-one was surprised when the match finally ended in a draw.