Dominant Algerian club CR Belouizdad are well on their way to securing yet another Algerian Ligue 1 Professionnelle title but Le Grand Chabab will not be celebrating a domestic double this season because of the efforts of ASO Chlef. ASO came back from an early concession to defeat CRB by a 2-1 score after extra time in the Algerian Cup final played on Thursday in Oran. Ibrahim Morsli scored the winning goal early in extra time and ASO held on for their second Algerian Cup trophy.
Algeria national team head coach Djamel Belmadi and the President of Algeria were in attendance for the final and witnessed CRB take the lead inside ten minutes when a penalty kick was awarded after Anayo Iwuala was tripped. Cameroonian striker Leonel Wamba sent ASO goalkeeper Sofiane Alouachiche the wrong way to convert his spot kick. Soon after, controversy erupted when ASO were denied a penalty kick for what appeared to be a clear handball committed by Wamba in his own penalty area.
ASO did not allow the missed call to thwart their efforts. In the 67th minute the equalizer arrived when a cross from the left wing found Mohamed Souibaa at the far post who headed the ball back across to a wide open Toufik Addadi who applied the final touch.
With the teams tied at one goal each following ninety minutes the decisive moment arrived in the 94th minute when a cross found Morsli. The midfielder’s first attempt was blocked by CRB keeper Alexis Guendouz but the ball came right back to Morsli who made no mistake on his second shot.
ASO Chlef will represent Algeria in the 2023-24 CAF Confederation Cup next season while CRB will now concentrate on finishing as the winners in Ligue 1. Extended highlights of the final are below.
ASO Chlef 2-1 CR Belouizdad: Extended Highlights
ASO Chlef 2-1 CR Belouizdad: The winning goal from Ibrahim Morsli in extra time
