Algeria Ligue 1: JSK move level at the top as unwilling leaders MC Alger fail to win again

The championship race in Algeria’s Ligue 1 continues to gain momentum as league leaders MC Alger continue to struggle. On Monday, MCA and CR Belouizdad each claimed a point following their 1-1 draw.

CRB youth academy graduate Lofti Boussouar came off the bench to level the match in the 77th minute and keep Le Grand Chabab within range of their Algiers rivals. Excellent work on the left wing from fellow substitute Mohamed Belkhir set up Boussouar for a routine finish.

MC Alger, who have won only one of their last five league matches, opened the scoring through talented young striker Mohamed Bangoura’s athletic finish.

MCA are still the league leaders but only because of a superior head-to-head record against JS Kabylie. The Canaries from Tizi Ouzou moved level on 46 points with MCA after a thrilling 2-1 victory at MC El Bayadh. Substitute Ahmed Mammeri fired in a powerful finish in the 87th minute for a late match winner.

MCA, JSK and CR Belouizdad (two points behind MCA and JSK) look to be the three contenders to focus on in the final stretch. After three consecutive defeats, USM Alger gained a measure of revenge on CS Constantine with a 2-1 home victory after CSC eliminated USMA from the CAF Confederation Cup early last month.

Late goals from Rayane Mahrouz and Riad Benayad completed a comeback victory for USMA over CSC, who are slipping perilously close to the relegation zone. USMA are two points back of ES Sétif are in good form after a 1-0 victory over Olympique Akbou.

After his goal scoring heroics in African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying for Algeria, Adil Boulbina returned to club Paradou AC and scored the only goal in their 1-0 victory at US Biskra on Monday. The 22-year-old, who continues to gain interest from Europe, now has a league-leading sixteen goals for sixth place PAC.

The league returns to action on Thursday when Sétif play host to CS Constantine.

Results

NC Magra 2-0 ASO Chlef

USM Khenchela 2-1 MC Oran

JS Saoura 0-0 ES Mostaganem

ES Sétif 1-0 Olympique Akbou

USM Alger 2-1 CS Constantine

CR Belouizdad 1-1 MC Alger

MC El Bayadh 1-2 JS Kabylie

US Biskra 0-1 Paradou AC

League Table (Top-6)