When a goalkeeper saves a penalty in a match, it is considered an excellent performance. But when it is done twice against a former club, it is a game they will remember for the rest of their lives.
Veteran USM Khenchela goalkeeper Oussama Litim achieved this feat on Saturday evening in a truly remarkable 2-2 draw against Algeria Ligue 1 leaders MC Alger that saw the visitors score twice in the final ten minutes to claim a point.
It appeared that MCA would stroll to a routine victory against their opponents in the bottom half of the table but Soufiane Bayazid saw his spot kick denied in the 15th minute before Akram Bouras was stopped just before halftime. It appeared that the save on Bayazid would not matter after MCA scored soon after but the goal was ruled out by VAR for offsides.
Despite the heroics of the goalkeeper who spent the previous two seasons with MCA, the league leaders gathered themselves at halftime and opened the scoring in the 55th minute through Abdelkader Menezla. Guinean striker Mohamed Bangoura then doubled the lead twenty minutes later by lifting his finish over Litim.
But fate was on the side of the visitors who did not let their goalkeeper's efforts go to waste. Hamid Djaouchi converted his attempt from the spot in the 83rd minute and then the veteran forward found an equalizer in stoppage time to complete the unlikeliest of draws for Khenchela against a giant of Algerian football.
One of MCA's fellow title challengers took advantage of the unique circumstances. JS Kabylie defeated MC Oran by a 2-1 score to move within eight points of MCA. Russian striker Ivan Ignatjev scored his second goal since joining from Armenian football and Aimen Lahmeri provided the second half winner for JSK.
On Friday, league leading scorer Adil Boulbina contributed both goals as Paradou AC defeated CS Constantine 2-0. The 21-year-old striker now has 15 goals in 18 matches and it appears that a transfer abroad is inevitable from a Paradou club that continues to export top talents through its renowned youth academy.
Tomorrow a big clash between two more of Algeria's biggest clubs when CR Belouizdad host USM Alger in an Algiers derby. Both teams will be looking to move closer to MCA with CRB currently in second place while USMA are a point back.
Results
Mostaganem 1-0 ES Setif
JS Kabylie 2-1 MC Oran
Paradou AC 2-0 CS Constantine
JS Saoura 2-0 US Biskra
ASO Chlef 0-0 Olympique Akbou
MC Alger 2-2 USM Khenchela
Sunday Fixtures
NC Magra vs MC El Bayadh
CR Belouizdad vs USM Alger
League Table (Top-5)
GP | Points | |
MC Alger | 20 | 41 |
CR Belouizdad | 19 | 33 |
JS Kabylie | 20 | 33 |
USM Alger | 19 | 32 |
Paradou AC | 20 | 29 |
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