League Play-Off

Highgrove Stadium
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Rachid Harkouk kicked off to start the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 5th minute, Rachid Harkouk managed to get in a good position for a shot. Van Buren's supporters rose to their feet, but Rachid Harkouk was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Farès Soltani breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Albert Bessou sent away a hard shot on goal in the 7th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Highgrove getting a freekick after 12 minutes play. Said Barbarossa hit a great ball. In the 15th minute, Rachid Harkouk made a precise shot to the right of Farès Soltani. Highgrove's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. Hamid Karim Belkassem was out of position in the 27 minute of play, and Mohammed Bougherra capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Mohammed Bougherra really showed his touch with that goal: 1-1. Hamid Karim Belkassem showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mohammed Bougherra, who was totally free with the ball in the 31st minute. In the 32nd match minute, Van Buren was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mohamed Ben Djura to maneuver through the defense. 36 minutes into the match, Mohammed Bougherra had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Hamid Karim Belkassem. Van Buren's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Mohammed Bougherra was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-1. Rachid Harkouk received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 39th minute. Farès Soltani tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 43rd minute, Rachid Harkouk ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Farès Soltani was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-2. After a rather tough play, Van Buren's Abdelhamid Méniri got a free kick in the 47th minute.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Mohammed Bougherra was the one to do the kick off. Farès Soltani showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rachid Harkouk in the 58th minute of the match. Van Buren's Hamid Karim Belkassem played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mohammed Bougherra in the 59th minute of play. If Albert Bessou had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After a defensive mix-up in Highgrove's zone, Abdelkader Raho stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Farès Soltani came out of the goal and Abdelkader Raho tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Rachid Harkouk kicked well hit freekick during the 72nd minute of the match. Hamid Karim Belkassem showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mohammed Bougherra in the 73rd minute of the match. Mohammed Bougherra might have been able to make a better finish in the 76th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Hamid Karim Belkassem. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Mohammed Bougherra ran back to his position shaking his head. Abdulhamid Khendu hit a great freekick 80 minutes into the match. Farès Soltani was out of position in the 81 minute of play, and Rachid Harkouk capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Rachid Harkouk really showed his touch with that goal: 2-4. A collision led to Van Buren getting a freekick after 87 minutes play. Rachid Harkouk hit a great ball. Mohammed Bougherra recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 88th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Albert Bessou might have been able to make a better finish in the 90th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Hamid Karim Belkassem. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Albert Bessou ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 96th minute, Highgrove's Adlène Amri seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Adlène Amri the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Highgrove protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Adlène Amri had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 96th minute of the game. One of Highgrove:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Van Buren:s goal. In the 98th minute there was a penalty for Van Buren. Abdellah Saïdi-Sief stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Farès Soltani. 2-5.