League Play-Off

Groton Stadium
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Jussef Zarabi got the match started through his kick off. 3 minutes into the match, Cheb Mamouni had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Camel Azzizi-Kettab. Groton FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Cheb Mamouni was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. A collision led to North Bay Village AFC getting a freekick after 6 minutes play. Chadli Djeballi hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jussef Zarabi in the 10th minute of play forced North Bay Village AFC's goalkeeper Nouara Hima to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cheb Mamouni struck a weak shot in the 18th minute. Camel Azzizi-Kettab didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for North Bay Village AFC. In the 20th minute, Jussef Zarabi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Ismaël Massi fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 32nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nouara Hima having to interfere. Jussef Zarabi fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 34th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nouara Hima having to interfere. 36 minutes into the game, Mehdi Merah-Benida was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. North Bay Village AFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Groton FC the free kick. After a rather tough play, North Bay Village AFC's Mehdi Merah-Benida got a free kick in the 36th minute. Groton FC's Abdelhamid Zakaria shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 37th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Nouara Hima but with some difficulty. Nouara Hima showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jussef Zarabi, who was totally free with the ball in the 39th minute. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Jussef Zarabi in the 45th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Nouara Hima prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 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. Cheb Mamouni was the one to do the kick off. In the 51st minute, Noureddine Mimoun ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Nouara Hima was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-1. After a defensive mix-up in Groton FC's zone, Nasserredine Brahami stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Camel Azzizi-Kettab came out of the goal and Nasserredine Brahami tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Cheb Mamouni fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 67th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Camel Azzizi-Kettab having to interfere. Camel Azzizi-Kettab made a fantastic save in the 69th minute, when Cheb Mamouni sent off a good shot on target. After 71 minutes Groton FC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Chadli Djeballi who took care of the corner kick. After taking down the ball on North Bay Village AFC's corner Chadli Djeballi fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Camel Azzizi-Kettab quite easily take care of the ball. Mehdi Merah-Benida received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 73rd minute. Camel Azzizi-Kettab tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Nasserredine Brahami fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 74th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Camel Azzizi-Kettab having to interfere. Nasserredine Brahami who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 78thth minute tested the skills of Camel Azzizi-Kettab when he managed to save the team from getting behind. 79 minutes into the match, North Bay Village AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Ismaël Massi came free, but Nouara Hima reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 80th minute, Mehdi Merah-Benida hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. North Bay Village AFC's Mehdi Merah-Benida got his second yellow card of the match in the 83rd minute. The referee ordered Mehdi Merah-Benida off the ground. In the 84th match minute, North Bay Village AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mehdi Merah-Benida to maneuver through the defense. In the 85th minute of the match Abdelhamid Zakaria sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Nouara Hima skillfully saved the ball. After some careless play in the Groton FC defense, Nasserredine Brahami kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Camel Azzizi-Kettab. The Groton FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Camel Azzizi-Kettab should have stopped the shot. Nouara Hima took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ismaël Massi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Ismaël Massi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 97th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Both teams had looked equal from kick-off, and no-one was surprised when the match finally ended in a draw.