League Play-Off

Branch
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Mimoun Khadra took the kick off in the first half of the match. Mimoun Khadra received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 11th minute. Adlène Harkat tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 15th minute, Tahar Benhabiles got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Merrionette FC's Mustapha Zouba got a good chance for a goal in the 19th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Mimoun Khadra fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 24th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Adlène Harkat having to interfere. In the 26th minute Mimoun Khadra shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Adlène Harkat saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience was convinced that Mimoun Khadra's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Adlène Harkat was relentless in the 27th minute of the game. 29 minutes into the match, Branch AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Mimoun Khadra came free, but Adlène Harkat reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ferhat Kaci Said received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 30th minute. Anthar Metref tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ferhat Kaci Said received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 32nd minute. Anthar Metref tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Adlène Harkat showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mimoun Khadra in the 35th minute of the match. With his leg Anthar Metref managed to avoid a goal in the 37thth minute, when Branch AFC's Ferhat Kaci Said fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Adlène Harkat came out of the goal in the 39th minute to try and stop a shot by Merrionette FC's Rachid Gaouaoui. But to his dismay, Rachid Gaouaoui quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. 47 minutes into the match, Mimoun Khadra had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Adlène Harkat. Branch AFC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Mimoun Khadra was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-2. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-2.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Ferhat Kaci Said to strike the kick off in the second half. Karim N'Soumer kicked well hit freekick during the 53rd minute of the match. 54 minutes into the match, Merrionette FC's goal looked a bit too open when Ferhat Kaci Said came free, but Anthar Metref reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Tahar Benhabiles received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 60th minute. Anthar Metref tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 62 minutes, Mimoun Ouid Taha mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Merrionette FC and the Branch AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 62 played minutes Merrionette FC got a freekick which was hit by Mimoun Ouid Taha. Branch AFC's Tahar Benhabiles got a good chance for a goal in the 65th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Anthar Metref made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tahar Benhabiles in the 67th minute of play. Mustapha Zouba charged in rather forcefully in the 68th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Mustapha Zouba the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 68th match minute, Merrionette FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mustapha Zouba to maneuver through the defense. 69 minutes into the match, Merrionette FC's goal looked a bit too open when Tahar Benhabiles came free, but Anthar Metref reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ferhat Kaci Said sent away a hard shot on goal in the 72nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 74 minutes of play Merrionette FC's Mimoun Ouid Taha was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Mimoun Khadra during the 80th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After having played for 81 minutes, Ferhat Kaci Said managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Branch AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ferhat Kaci Said was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Rachid Gaouaoui was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 84th minute. Merrionette FC's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Anthar Metref took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ferhat Kaci Said, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Rachid Gaouaoui had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Rachid Gaouaoui struck a weak shot in the 95th minute. Adlène Harkat didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Merrionette FC. 97 minutes into the game, Merrionette FC's Rachid Gaouaoui nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Adlène Harkat made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-3. The Branch AFC supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Merrionette FC's performance. The match ended with a win for Merrionette FC.