CR Belouizdad scrape through Algeria Cup scare against Oued Fodda​

CR Belouizdad, still reeling from a heavy CAF Confederation Cup defeat in Congo, narrowly avoided a shock exit from the Algerian Cup with a laboured 2-1 win over third-tier side ORB Oued Fodda in the round of 32.

The tie at a nearly empty Nelson Mandela Stadium quickly turned into a potential nightmare when the visitors from Chlef opened the scoring after just seven minutes.​

With first-choice keepers Chaal away with the A’ team and Zeghba out of the picture, young goalkeeper Mokhtar was handed a start and immediately endured a moment to forget. A poor pass out from the back went straight to an opponent, who set up Boukbouka to stun CRB with the early opener.​

Captain Raouf Benguit then dragged his side back into the game, first by delivering a precise corner that defender Bekkour headed in with a superb angled effort on 17 minutes. Deep into stoppage time at 90+1, Benguit produced a clever lofted pass in behind the defence for Abderrahmane Meziane, who beat the offside trap and buried the winner to spare CRB’s blushes.​

The 2-1 victory was not celebrated wildly by the players, but it may still prove precious for a club searching for confidence and stability in a turbulent period.​