Algeria: 10-man CR Belouizdad stun OA, MC Alger lose

Surprise results and plenty of drama characterized the thirteenth round of the Algeria Ligue 1 Professionnelle with CR Belouizdad winning while reigning champions MC Alger (MCA) suffered their first defeat of the season.

After a demoralizing defeat to MCA in their previous league clash, CR Belouizdad showed incredible resilience in a comeback 3-2 victory over Olympique Akbou on Saturday.

Former Esperance de Tunis striker Mohamed Ben Hammouda was the hero for CRB. With the hosts down 1-2 and reduced to ten players following a red card around the 80th minute, the Tunisian came on as a substitute shortly after and produced two incredible headed goals to win the match for the Algiers club. His second goal, a remarkable flicked header, left visitors OA stunned.

That was far from the only notable event of the matchday. Newly-promoted MB Rouissat stunned reigning champions MCA 1-0 on Thursday to hand Rulani Mokwena’s side their first defeat of the season in domestic action.

Faik Amrane’s first goal of the season, scored after his dangerous free kick service curled and bounced into the goal untouched, was enough for MBR who continue to show that they belong in the top flight.

Elsewhere, JS Kabylie also suffered a notable defeat at ES Setif while USM Alger’s five-match winning streak in all competitions came to an end with a 2-2 draw at home against ES Ben Aknoun. Despite their first defeat of the season, MCA remain firmly in the driver’s seat with a four point lead and multiple games in hand on closest contenders MC Oran.

Algeria Ligue 1 Results: Matchday 13

ASO Chlef 1-0 MC Oran

MB Rouissat 1-0 MC Alger

USM Alger 2-2 ES Ben Aknoun

MC El Bayadh 1-2 USM Khenchela

CS Constantine 2-0 Paradou AC

ES Setif 1-0 JS Kabylie

JS Saroua 3-2 ES Mostaganem

CR Belouizdad 3-2 Olympique Akbou

Algeria Ligue 1: Table (Top-8)