League Play-Off

Santa Clara Park
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Santa Clara's Abdelhamid Benhamou played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nasreddine Saïd-Guerni in the 12th minute of play. Nasreddine Saïd-Guerni received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 18th minute. Abdelhamid Benhamou tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ballwin's Fathi Cohen played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mourad Cohen-Tannoudji in the 22nd minute of play. Abdelhani Kouici kicked well hit freekick during the 23rd minute of the match. Nasreddine Saïd-Guerni's late challenge caught a Santa Clara's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Nasreddine Saïd-Guerni helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Ballwin's Nasreddine Saïd-Guerni got a free kick in the 28th minute. In the 32nd match minute, Ballwin was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Robert Mezdad to maneuver through the defense. Mourad Cohen-Tannoudji received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Fathi Cohen came out and tried to block the shot, but Mourad Cohen-Tannoudji slotted it home off the left post making it 1-0 in the 37th minute. Lazhar Kouidri's late challenge caught a Ballwin's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Lazhar Kouidri helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Santa Clara getting a freekick after 43 minutes play. Lazhar Kouidri hit a great ball. Abdelhamid Benhamou made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rachid Lamine in the 44th minute of play.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Mourad Cohen-Tannoudji stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. When Santa Clara's Rachid Cherrad in the 54th minute got a chance for a shot 54th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Ballwin's goalie prevented a goal. 56 minutes into the match, Ballwin's goal looked a bit too open when Rachid Cherrad came free, but Fathi Cohen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 57 minutes into the match, Ballwin's goal looked a bit too open when Rachid Cherrad came free, but Fathi Cohen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Santa Clara's zone, Nasreddine Saïd-Guerni stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Abdelhamid Benhamou came out of the goal and Nasreddine Saïd-Guerni tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Rachid Lamine sent away a hard shot on goal in the 61st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Fathi Cohen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Mourad Cohen-Tannoudji, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Ballwin's Fathi Cohen played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mourad Cohen-Tannoudji in the 67th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rachid Lamine in the 70th minute of play forced Santa Clara's goalkeeper Abdelhamid Benhamou to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 74th minute, Santa Clara's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Rachid Lamine fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. When Nasreddine Saïd-Guerni came up free with the goalie in the 79th minute, the Ballwin 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 Nasreddine Saïd-Guerni couldn't finish the play. Nasreddine Saïd-Guerni sent away a hard shot on goal in the 81st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Robert Mezdad during the 83rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Robert Mezdad kicked well hit freekick during the 83rd minute of the match. If Rachid Cherrad had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 88th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ballwin's Fathi Cohen played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rachid Cherrad in the 91st minute of play. Nasreddine Saïd-Guerni received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 97th minute. Abdelhamid Benhamou tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The Santa Clara support was delighted with a win in a match that could easily have ended differently.