Algerian Ligue 1: ES Sétif edge CS Constantine as MB Rouissat hold ES Mostaganem 

ES Sétif secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over CS Constantine at the Stade du 8 Mai 1945, while newly promoted MB Rouissat earned a valuable 1-1 draw away to ES Mostaganem, climbing to the top of the Ligue 1 Mobilis standings alongside Olympique Akbou.

Both fixtures opened the fourth round of the Algerian championship on Thursday.

At Sétif, the derby lived up to expectations with an intense and balanced contest.

CS Constantine struck first through Tahar in the 22nd minute, putting pressure on the home side early on.

But ES Sétif responded after the interval, with Zerrouki leading the charge.

His double in the 49th and 69th minutes turned the game around, sealing victory for Entente.

The result sees Sétif climb to third place on six points, level with Constantine, underlining the close competition at the top end of the table.

For CSC, the defeat was a setback after a promising start, while Sétif’s resilience reaffirmed their ability to grind out results under pressure.

In the evening’s second fixture, ES Mostaganem were frustrated on home turf by Rouissat.

Boukhelifa gave the hosts an early lead in the eighth minute, sparking hopes of a routine win.

But just before the break, Masmoudi inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 44th minute, gifting Rouissat a lifeline.

The second half saw Mostaganem dominate possession and pile on the pressure, but Rouissat stood firm defensively to protect their point.

The draw proved decisive in the standings: with seven points from three matches, Rouissat now share top spot with Olympique Akbou, who have also collected seven points but played one game more.

Mostaganem, meanwhile, dropped to fifth place with five points, level with USM Khenchela.

Their inability to convert dominance into goals left fans frustrated, while Rouissat celebrated a result that further underlines their impressive adaptation to life in the top flight.

The remaining six matches of the fourth round will be played on Friday and Saturday, with the standings expected to tighten further.

For now, Rouissat’s unexpected rise and Sétif’s comeback win have set the tone for what promises to be another unpredictable Ligue 1 Mobilis season.