League

Calexico Stadium
Spectators: 6716 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1716, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Abd al-Aziz Benflis started the match with the kick off. Abd al-Aziz El-Kenz charged in rather forcefully in the 2nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Abd al-Aziz El-Kenz the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Abd al-Aziz El-Kenz kicked well hit freekick during the 3rd minute of the match. Abd al-Aziz Benflis sent away a hard shot on goal in the 7th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, Calexico FC's Farid Benida got a free kick in the 8th minute. 10 minutes into the match, Calexico FC's goal looked a bit too open when Noureddine Maroc came free, but Madjid Kacha reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mourad Chaib's late challenge caught a Issaquah's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Mourad Chaib helped the player get up and apologised. After 13 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Calexico FC! With his leg Abd el Ziani managed to avoid a goal in the 18thth minute, when Calexico FC's Jussef Ben Benhamou fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. When Mustapha Zaaboub came up free with the goalie in the 24th minute, the Calexico 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 Mustapha Zaaboub couldn't finish the play. Abd el Ziani made a fantastic save in the 25th minute, when Jussef Ben Benhamou sent off a good shot on target. The referee felt a red card was in order, 27 minutes into the game, when Dida Allalou put in a rough tackle. In a very dangerous position, a player in Calexico FC fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 27th minute. Penalty! The audience thought a goal was coming when Jussef Ben Benhamou got free with Abd el Ziani in the 34th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Jussef Ben Benhamou succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 1-1 in the 35th playminute. Liamine Cerbah hit a great freekick 43 minutes into the match. After having played for 45 minutes, Abd al-Aziz Benflis managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Issaquah's supporters crossed their fingers, but Abd al-Aziz Benflis was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

52 minutes into the game, Abd al-Aziz Benflis recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Madjid Kacha. Abd al-Aziz Benflis showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-2. In the 54th minute, Jean-Michel Sahraoui hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Madjid Kacha made an important save on a dangerous shot by Noureddine Maroc in the 57th minute. In the 59th minute, Jean-Michel Sahraoui 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. If Noureddine Maroc had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 67 minutes into the match, Abd al-Aziz Benflis dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Madjid Kacha, 1-3. Abd al-Aziz Benflis 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. Madjid Kacha showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Abd al-Aziz Benflis, who was totally free with the ball in the 80th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 85th minute, Jussef Ben Benhamou managed to get in a good position for a shot. Calexico FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Jussef Ben Benhamou was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Abd el Ziani breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After a rather tough play, Issaquah's Cheb Karim Belkassem got a free kick in the 90th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Issaquah's zone, Mourad Chaib stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Abd el Ziani came out of the goal and Mourad Chaib tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Abd al-Aziz Benflis in the 96th minute of play forced Calexico FC's goalkeeper Madjid Kacha to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Issaquah walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.