CR Belouizdad have booked their place in the final of the Algerian Cup after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over MCE El Bayadh at the Miloud-Hadefi Stadium in Oran.
With a spot in the final at stake, Chabab knew only a win would suffice.
After a goalless but dominant first half, it was Abderrahmane Meziane who ultimately made the difference, scoring just two minutes into the second half to send his side through to their latest cup final, where they will aim for a historic tenth title.
From the opening whistle, Belouizdad signalled their intent, applying early pressure on a disciplined MCEB side that had already demonstrated its quality by eliminating ES Sétif in the previous round.
Despite CRB’s aggressive start, the El Bayadh defence held firm throughout the first period, frustrating their opponents and maintaining a clean sheet.
The breakthrough nearly came before the interval, as CRB forwards Mahious and Mayo both came close to scoring.
MCEB goalkeeper Abdelkader Salhi was in inspired form, producing a trio of crucial saves that kept the score level.
His efforts ensured the first 45 minutes ended in stalemate, despite CRB’s clear territorial dominance and attacking intent.
Momentum shifted immediately after the restart.
In the 47th minute, Meziane broke the deadlock with a composed finish following a slick team move, finally beating Salhi to give Belouizdad the lead they had long pursued.
Rather than pressing for a second goal, Belouizdad opted for a more conservative approach in the second half, focusing on maintaining their advantage and exploiting spaces on the counter.
MCEB responded by pushing higher up the pitch and making a series of substitutions to inject fresh energy into their attack, but they struggled to break down a resolute CRB backline.
Disciplinary issues surfaced late in the match, with CRB’s Boukerchaoui, Benguit, and Boussouar all receiving yellow cards as tensions rose.
Nevertheless, Chabab held on to their narrow lead without serious incident in the final moments, despite a late flurry of substitutions and a last-minute strike from MCEB that clipped the crossbar.
Under the watchful eyes of referees Aouina, Amroune, and Zerougua, the match concluded with CR Belouizdad advancing to the final.
With one final hurdle remaining, the Algerian giants will now turn their attention to capturing what would be their tenth triumph in the country’s most prestigious cup competition.
