League Play-Off

Northumberland
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. Nasreddine Daham started the match with the kick off. 4 minutes into the match, Northumberland's goal looked a bit too open when Ben Mamouni came free, but Hicham Raho reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ali Karim Belkassem hit a great freekick 5 minutes into the match. 8 minutes into the game, Ahmed Benmabrouk was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Northumberland's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave South Pasadena the free kick. A collision led to Northumberland getting a freekick after 8 minutes play. Ahmed Benmabrouk hit a great ball. If Ben Mamouni had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Nasreddine Daham hit a great freekick 11 minutes into the match. Sofiane Benaouf fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 12th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Krim Lamine having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in South Pasadena's zone, Charles Rahouli stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Krim Lamine came out of the goal and Charles Rahouli tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. If Charles Rahouli had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 16th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Hicham Raho didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Ben Mamouni went, in the 20th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Nasreddine Daham fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 23rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Hicham Raho having to interfere. In the 27th minute, Ben Mamouni 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. Hicham Raho took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nasreddine Daham, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 33 minutes into the match, South Pasadena's goalkeeper Krim Lamine had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Sofiane Benaouf. Hicham Raho took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nasreddine Daham, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Nasreddine Daham fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 40th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Hicham Raho having to interfere. Hicham Raho made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nasreddine Daham in the 42nd minute of play. In the 43rd minute, Nasreddine Daham 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. After a defensive mix-up in Northumberland's zone, Ben Mamouni stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Hicham Raho came out of the goal and Ben Mamouni tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Charles Rahouli to make the kick off. Nasreddine Daham might have been able to make a better finish in the 52nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Hicham Raho. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Nasreddine Daham ran back to his position shaking his head. With a little luck, Northumberland's Hicham Raho got control of the ball when Ben Mamouni tried to sneak it across the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Nasreddine Daham in the 60th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Hicham Raho prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Hicham Raho made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ben Mamouni in the 61st minute. Nasreddine Daham recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 65th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Hicham Raho didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Ben Mamouni went, in the 66th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. If Ben Mamouni had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ali Meskine kicked well hit freekick during the 74th minute of the match. In the 78th minute there was a penalty for Northumberland. Fodil Adjani stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Krim Lamine. 1-2. If Ben Mamouni had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ben Mamouni's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Hicham Raho read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 84th minute of play. After having played for 89 minutes, Hamid Boumedienne managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. South Pasadena's supporters crossed their fingers, but Hamid Boumedienne was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Ahmed Benmabrouk hit a great freekick 92 minutes into the match. Hicham Raho showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ali Meskine in the 96th minute of the match. Ben Mamouni sent away a hard shot on goal in the 97th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. South Pasadena played a much better game than Northumberland and deserved their victory. The Northumberland players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.