League Play-Off

Ridley Park
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Damascus's Abdellah El-Hadi started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. In the 2nd minute, Mohamed Raho hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 11th minute, Benamar Bitat 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. In the 14th minute Abdellah El-Hadi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nabil Khalef saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of Damascus booed when Ridley was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 18 match minutes in a wonderful position. Hamid Fanon didn't get a good kick on the ball. Mehdi Hemdani sent away a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Mehdi Hemdani sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 26 minutes into the game, Mohamed Raho was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Ridley's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Damascus the free kick. Mohamed Raho kicked well hit freekick during the 26th minute of the match. Abdel Abdi 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. After having played for 35 minutes, Abdulhamid Cherfa managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ridley's supporters crossed their fingers, but Abdulhamid Cherfa was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Mehdi Hemdani could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 38th minute of the match, but Reda Hamrouche made a huge save. Reda Hamrouche made a fantastic save in the 40th minute, when Mehdi Hemdani sent off a good shot on target. In the 42nd minute, Mohamed Hima hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 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.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Abdulhamid Cherfa made a kick off. Abdulhamid Cherfa sent away a hard shot on goal in the 53rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 56th minute, Hamid Cherfa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Belaid Aliche received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 57th minute. Nabil Khalef tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 59th minute of the game. One of Ridley:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Damascus:s goal. Reda Hamrouche showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Abdulhamid Cherfa, who was totally free with the ball in the 66th minute. If Abdulhamid Cherfa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 73rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Belaid Aliche sent away a hard shot on goal in the 75th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Abdellah El-Hadi recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 78th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 78 minutes into the match, Belaid Aliche notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of Ridley's Nabil Khalef. Nabil Khalef was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. In the 88th minute, Abdulhamid Cherfa 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. In the 91st minute, Ridley's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Belaid Aliche fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. 93 minutes into the match, Ridley's goal looked a bit too open when Abdellah El-Hadi came free, but Nabil Khalef reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After recieving a nice pass, Ridley's Hamid Cherfa tried to score from far away in the 96th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. A collision led to Damascus getting a freekick after 100 minutes play. Mohamed Hima hit a great ball. The second half was just like the first, even and exciting. The match ended in a draw.