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Algeria Ligue 1: Goalkeeper Litim saves two penalties as Khenchela come back to draw MC Alger

Writer: Andrew OlssonAndrew Olsson

Khenchela goalkeeper Oussama Litim had a night to remember against former club MC Alger. Photo Credit: USM Khenchela
Khenchela goalkeeper Oussama Litim had a night to remember against former club MC Alger. Photo Credit: USM Khenchela

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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