MC Alger fall! JS Saoura comeback to stun leaders

In a clash between first and second place on Sunday in Algeria’s Ligue 1 Mobilis, JS Saoura came back from an early deficit to shock reigning champions MC Alger 2-1 at the Stade du 20 Août 1955 in Béchar.

Ismaïl Saadi’s 81st minute strike was too much for MCA goalkeeper Abdelatif Ramdane to handle and he allowed the ball to slip through his hands and into the goal. It was an inspired effort from the hosts, who dealt the reigning champions their first league defeat since February 20 when MC Oran accomplished the task.

Early on, it appeared that The Dean would roll to another routine victory. Zakaria Naidji continued his strong form to net the opening goal in the 12th minute after poor passing from the JSS defense allowed the attacker to intercept and finish a 1-v-1 opportunity.

But the hosts gathered valuable momentum at the end of the first half when defender Nasreddine Zaalani arrived for a powerful header from a free kick to level the match.

 

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 A pesky JSS team continued to trouble the champions in an even second half and were rewarded for their efforts when Saadi’s powerful shot gave his club their third consecutive victory.

Even though the result is unlikely to lead to a dethroning of MCA, who still lead by nine points with seven matches to play, it is a massive boost for JSS who remain in strong contention to qualify for next season’s CAF Champions League.

CR Belouizdad, with two matches in hand, remain in firm contention to finish as runners-up. They crushed strugglers ES Mostaganem 7-0 earlier on Sunday.

Midfield captain Abdelraouf Benguit scored a hat-trick while promising forward Lotfi Boussouar scored twice for CRB, who are five points back of JSS but have played two less matches. However, Le Grand Chabab have a busy schedule ahead with fixtures in the CAF Confederation Cup semifinals ahead as well as a difficult Coupe d’Algérie semifinal duel at CS Constantine.

Elsewhere on Sunday, USM Alger’s difficult league campaign continued with a 1-2 defeat at ASO Chlef. Another notable underachiever, JS Kabylie, were held to a 1-1 draw by last place MC El Bayadh.

Results

MB Rouissat 1-1 Olympique Akbou

CS Constantine 0-1 MC Oran

USM Khenchela 1-0 Paradou AC

ES Setif 1-1 ES Ben Aknoun

ASO Chlef 2-1 USM Alger

CR Belouizdad 7-0 ES Mostaganem

MC El Bayadh 1-1 JS Kabylie

JS Saoura 2-1 MC Alger

League Table: MC Alger in strong position despite defeat