Algerian Ligue 1: MC Alger defeat reignites title race
Defeat for MC Alger away to MC Oran has tightened the Algerian Ligue 1 title race after CS Constantine closed the gap to a single point on matchday 20.
League leaders MC Alger were beaten 2-1 in Oran in one of four fixtures played on Friday, a result that reshaped the top of the standings and offered renewed hope to their closest challengers.
Oran opened the scoring in the 23rd minute through Boubacar Traoré.
MC Alger responded before the break as Zinedine Ferhat equalised in the 42nd minute, restoring parity at half-time.
The match appeared to be heading for a draw until stoppage time, when Ayoub Abdellaoui inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 90+4th minute, handing the hosts a decisive victory.
The win temporarily lifts MC Oran into fourth place on 27 points, while MC Alger remain top on 36 points but with a significantly reduced advantage.
Elsewhere, ES Sétif secured a 2-1 home victory over MB Rouissat.
Kheir Eddine Toual gave Sétif an early lead in the 10th minute before Mohamed Bearibi levelled for the visitors in the 42nd.
Mortada Koniche restored the advantage in the 67th minute, allowing the home side to collect all three points and move provisionally into 10th place with 23 points.
Rouissat remain seventh with 26.
CS Constantine strengthened the title contest with a 2-0 away win against ASO Chlef.
Miloud Rebiai opened the scoring in the ninth minute, and Yao Evra Agbagno later secured the result.
Constantine now have 35 points, just one behind the leaders, while Chlef sit 13th on 21 points.
The final match of the day ended goalless between CR Belouizdad and MC El Bayadh.
The stalemate leaves Belouizdad eighth with 25 points, whereas El Bayadh remain bottom in 16th place with 12.
With several rounds still to play, Friday’s results have dramatically revived the championship battle, reducing the margin at the summit and increasing pressure on the leaders heading into the next fixtures.
