League Play-Off

Vernal
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Mouloud Kourichi kicked off to start the match. With an all-out effort, Vernal's Fodil Benbitour threw himself towards the right post 3 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Mouloud Kourichi, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. In the 11th match minute, Sparlingville FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ahmed Mohamed to maneuver through the defense. After some careless play in the Vernal defense, Khalida Zeghdoud kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Smail Khalef. The Vernal fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Smail Khalef should have stopped the shot. Smail Khalef showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Chakib Zahouania in the 22nd minute of the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Mouloud Kourichi in the 24th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Fodil Benbitour prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Fodil Benbitour took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Mouloud Kourichi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 29th minute, Vernal's Jean Mimoun ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Fodil Benbitour. Fodil Benbitour yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-1. After 34 minutes of play, Sparlingville FC's Khalida Zeghdoud made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Smail Khalef was left in no man's land by his defense there! When Ahmed Mohamed came up free with the goalie in the 38th minute, the Sparlingville FC fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Ahmed Mohamed couldn't finish the play. In the 41st minute, one of Sparlingville FC:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Sparlingville FC. The referee gave Vernal a penalty, 43 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Mehdi Nekkar, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Sparlingville FC's Fodil Benbitour. 2-2. Chakib Zahouania fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 48th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Smail Khalef having to interfere. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 2-2 after a close first half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Chakib Zahouania stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Khalida Zeghdoud received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 53rd minute. Smail Khalef tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Abderrahmane Kraouche received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 56th minute. Fodil Benbitour tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Vernal's zone, Khalida Zeghdoud stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Smail Khalef came out of the goal and Khalida Zeghdoud tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 59 minutes, Jean Mimoun mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Vernal and the Sparlingville FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Jean Mimoun kicked well hit freekick during the 60th minute of the match. If Chakib Zahouania had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Chakib Zahouania in the 67th minute of play forced Vernal's goalkeeper Smail Khalef to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With his leg Smail Khalef managed to avoid a goal in the 74thth minute, when Sparlingville FC's Khalida Zeghdoud fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Khalida Zeghdoud took the ball and in the 75 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Smail Khalef. Smail Khalef dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-3. Ahmed Hamouda's late challenge caught a Vernal's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ahmed Hamouda helped the player get up and apologised. 81 minutes into the match, Vernal's goalkeeper Smail Khalef had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Khalida Zeghdoud. The supporters of Vernal booed when Sparlingville FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 85 match minutes in a wonderful position. Chakib Zahouania didn't get a good kick on the ball. Sparlingville FC's Fodil Benbitour played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mouloud Kourichi in the 92nd minute of play. Smail Khalef took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Chakib Zahouania, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 96 played minutes Vernal got a freekick which was hit by Mohamed Schoonmaker. Amine Boutella made a great header on Sparlingville FC's corner, it was just that Vernal's Smail Khalef managed to reach the ball for a save. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Sparlingville FC eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.