League

Shiprock
Spectators: 6722 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1722, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Mohammad Malek got the match started through his kick off. Lili Kacha struck a weak shot in the 3rd minute. Abdellah Bencheikh didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Lakewood. A collision led to Lakewood getting a freekick after 9 minutes play. Fawzi Bougherra hit a great ball. When Ahmed Baroudi fell near the penalty area in the 11th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Shiprock FC's protests and gave Ahmed Baroudi a yellow card for diving instead. Ahmed Baroudi kicked well hit freekick during the 11th minute of the match. When Lili Kacha came up free with the goalie in the 13th minute, the Lakewood 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 Lili Kacha couldn't finish the play. Charles Labi made an important save on a dangerous shot by El Merbah in the 19th minute. Lakewood's Charles Labi played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mohammad Malek in the 20th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Lakewood's zone, El Merbah stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Charles Labi came out of the goal and El Merbah tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Mohammad Malek was extremely unlucky when he, in the 28th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. Ahmed Baroudi was shown his second yellow card after 35 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. In the 37th minute, Ahmed Baroudi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of Lakewood booed when Shiprock FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 38 match minutes in a wonderful position. Smail Khadra didn't get a good kick on the ball. 40 minutes into the match, Shiprock FC's goal looked a bit too open when Abdelaziz Bentifour came free, but Abdellah Bencheikh reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Abdellah Bencheikh stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Lili Kacha's shot from short distance in the 41st minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Lili Kacha in the 42nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Abdellah Bencheikh saved Shiprock FC from getting behind. El Merbah fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 45th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Charles Labi having to interfere. The score stood at 0-0 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Lili Kacha to make the kick off. El Merbah fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 53rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Charles Labi having to interfere. After 55 minutes, Abdel Bitat mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Lakewood and the Shiprock FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 55 played minutes Lakewood got a freekick which was hit by Abdel Bitat. If El Merbah had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 68th minute, El Merbah ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Charles Labi was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-0. Lili Kacha 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 some fancy dribbling in the 76th minute, Lili Kacha managed to get in a good position for a shot. Lakewood's supporters rose to their feet, but Lili Kacha was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Abdellah Bencheikh breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 90th match minute, Lakewood was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Benamar Belkacem to maneuver through the defense. In the 94th minute the ball was on its way in behind Lakewood's goalkeeper Charles Labi, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 95th minute Toufik Boukensa shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Charles Labi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Shiprock FC's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.