League

Hartford City Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Tupelo AFC's Ahmed Meriem started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Benamar Boutabout took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ahmed Meriem, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 4th match minute, Hartford City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Safy Guendouz to maneuver through the defense. In the 11th minute Ahmed Meriem shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Benamar Boutabout saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Fadhil Abrika didn't miss a given chance and shot in short distance 1-1 via right post in the game's 15th minute. Hartford City's supporters showed their exhuberating excitement! In the 23rd minute, Bouabdellah Abbas ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Mohamed El-Hadi was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-1. After a defensive mix-up in Tupelo AFC's zone, Fadhil Abrika stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Mohamed El-Hadi came out of the goal and Fadhil Abrika tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 31 minutes into the match, Mouloud Ibrir had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Mohamed El-Hadi. Tupelo AFC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Mouloud Ibrir was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 4-1. In the 36th minute, Mehdi Kourichi made a precise shot to the right of Benamar Boutabout. Hartford City's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 4-2. Benamar Boutabout didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Ahmed Meriem went, in the 46th minute, to the upper right corner, 4-3 was the resulting score. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 4-3.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Fadhil Abrika to strike the kick off in the second half. The audience thought a goal was coming when Mehdi Kourichi got free with Benamar Boutabout in the 52nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After a defensive mix-up in Tupelo AFC's zone, Bouabdellah Abbas stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Mohamed El-Hadi came out of the goal and Bouabdellah Abbas tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 60 minutes into the match, Hartford City's goalkeeper Benamar Boutabout had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Mehdi Kourichi. Mouloud Ibrir fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 61st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mohamed El-Hadi having to interfere. Fadhil Abrika blasted a shot towards the goal in the 64th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Mohamed El-Hadi having to make a save. Mouloud Ibrir struck a weak shot in the 65th minute. Mohamed El-Hadi didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Hartford City. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ahmed Meriem in the 67th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Benamar Boutabout prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After a defensive mix-up in Tupelo AFC's zone, Fadhil Abrika stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Mohamed El-Hadi came out of the goal and Fadhil Abrika tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When the match clock showed 81 minutes, the score became 5-3 when Fadhil Abrika sped through Tupelo AFC's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Mohamed El-Hadi. In the 89th match minute, Hartford City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alain Abbas to maneuver through the defense. Mehdi Kourichi could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 90th minute of the match, but Benamar Boutabout made a huge save. 92 minutes into the match, Hartford City's goalkeeper Benamar Boutabout had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Mehdi Kourichi. Mouloud Ibrir blasted a shot towards the goal in the 93rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Mohamed El-Hadi having to make a save. When the referee ended the match the Hartford City players were able to celebrate. They had won a fair victory and recieved the ovations of their fans.