League Play-Off

Fort Lupton
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Kader Benaouf made the kick off which started today's match. 5 minutes into the game, Amine Harkouk was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Smyrna's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Fort Lupton the free kick. After a rather tough play, Smyrna's Amine Harkouk got a free kick in the 6th minute. Ahmed Benhabiles received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 7th minute. Fadhil Sofiane tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Said Ibrir showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Djamel Aboulker, who was totally free with the ball in the 13th minute. 19 minutes into the match, Fort Lupton's goal looked a bit too open when Amine Harkouk came free, but Said Ibrir reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Lounès Bedjaoui struck a weak shot in the 24th minute. Said Ibrir didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Smyrna. After a defensive mix-up in Smyrna's zone, Ahmed Benhabiles stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Fadhil Sofiane came out of the goal and Ahmed Benhabiles tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 0-0 after a close first half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Djamel Aboulker stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 59th minute, Amine Harkouk hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Said Ibrir showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from René Brahami in the 63rd minute of the match. Djamel Aboulker sent away a hard shot on goal in the 66th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 71st minute the ball was on its way in behind Smyrna's goalkeeper Fadhil Sofiane, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Lounès Bedjaoui fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 72nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Said Ibrir having to interfere. 74 minutes into the match, Lounès Bedjaoui had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Said Ibrir. Fort Lupton's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Lounès Bedjaoui was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-2. 78 minutes into the match, Smyrna's goal looked a bit too open when Ahmed Benhabiles came free, but Fadhil Sofiane reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 79th match minute, Smyrna was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by René Brahami to maneuver through the defense. 81 minutes into the game, Fort Lupton's Ahmed Benhabiles nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Fadhil Sofiane made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-2. In the 85th match minute, Fort Lupton was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mamaar Derrida to maneuver through the defense. If Lounès Bedjaoui had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 88th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Through an outstanding action, after 90 minutes, Said Ibrir successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. With a little luck, Fort Lupton's Said Ibrir got control of the ball when Lounès Bedjaoui tried to sneak it across the goal line. When the match was over Smyrna could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Fort Lupton throughout the match.