ES Sétif’s position at the top of the Algeria Ligue 1 Professionnelle was a little more secure following the failure of defending champions CR Belouizdad to pick up three points at CS Constantine on Wednesday, the match ending in a 0-0 draw. Both teams had their opportunities in the first half but CRB in particular lacked precision in the final third, especially on set piece chances. CRB keeper Gaya Merbah had to come up big on a couple of occasions after the break, doing well to save a swerving free kick early in the second half while CRB’s best chance came when an errant cross beat the CSC keeper but hit the post and bounced out.
NA Hussein Dey turned in an excellent performance at home to defeat USM Alger and boost their chances of escaping the relegation zone. The action picked up in the second half when defender Mohamed Rabie Meftah came back to haunt the team he served for nine years, the 2017 member of Algeria’s Africa Cup of Nations squad converting a penalty kick to open the scoring for NAHD early in the second half. Mazire Soula appeared to earn a road point for USMA with a late 81st minute equalizer, but Rachid Naji rescued the three points for Hussein Dey with a nifty volley only two minutes later.
There was much less suspense in MC Alger’s decisive victory over Paradou. After a scoreless first half MCA got right to work, Mohamed Ramzi Haif opening the scoring in the opening minute of the second half. Only a few minutes later Senegalese midfielder Isla Diomande headed in the second from a cross before a corner kick led to Mouad Haddad’s headed goal before 60 minutes were up. Belkacem Brahimi wrapped up the scoring five minutes later to make it a disatrous 20 minutes from Paradou to open the second period.
Highlights from all three games are below.
CS Constantine 0-0 CR Belouizdad
NA Hussein Dey 2-1 USM Alger
MC Alger 4-0 Paradou
