Chabab Belouizdad kept their chase for the Algerian League crown alive, powering past JS Saoura 3-1 on Thursday in a lively 22nd-round clash.
The win tightens the screws on leaders MC Alger, with Belouizdad refusing to let the top spot slip away easily.
Belouizdad’s 40 points from 22 matches leave them just one shy of Mouloudia, who’ve played two fewer games. Saoura, stuck on 28 points, remain mired in ninth, unable to spark a climb up the table.
The visitors wasted no time asserting dominance. Youssef El Aouafi coolly converted a penalty in the eighth minute, setting the tone. Bilal Boukerchaoui doubled the lead five minutes later with a sharp finish.
Saoura showed fight early in the second half, pulling one back through Ismail Saidi in the 47th minute. But Belouizdad sealed the deal late, as Bilal Bouswar struck in the 83rd minute to quash any comeback hopes. Elsewhere, ES Mostaganem and Olympique Akbou battled to a 1-1 stalemate.
