CR Belouizdad are creeping up to the summit of Algeria's top flight Ligue 1 Professionnelle after Le Grand Chabab secured a 2-1 victory at MC Oran on Monday.
Former USM Alger striker Aymen Mahious, on loan from Swiss Super League club Yverdon, scored both goals for CRB who held off a late rally from hosts MCO. Mahious produced a powerful volley that just cleared the goal line for a 31st minute goal that was confirmed by the referee.
Mahious added a second goal early in the second half to bring his total for the season to three. Almost immediately after the whistle sounded to commence the second half, the poacher leaped up to head in a well crafted cross from the left wing and CRB appeared to be on their way to three points.
Even after a red card was issued to MC Oran forward Zoubir Motrani in the 75th minute, however, the hosts created a little suspense in the final stretch. Former CRB star Karim Aribi was in the right place for an easy finish in the 80th minute and MCO were back in the match but the 10-man team could not find an equalizer.
CRB have now almost fully recovered from an awful beginning to the 2024-25 season, sitting only two points back of league leaders MC Alger in second position. MCA were in action on Sunday and surprisingly settled for a 1-1 draw at newly promoted Mostaganem. Mouloudia captain Ayoub Abdellaoui opened the scoring inside ten minutes but an equalizer early in the second half from the hosts restored parity.
It was a missed opportunity to earn three points for the league leaders who now have two clubs behind them within range (CRB and JS Kabylie). MCA's rivals USM Alger were the other big Algerian club in action over the weekend and they also experienced a disappointing result, drawing 0-0 at midtable side Olympique Akbou.
League Table (Top-6)
GP | Points | |
MC Alger | 15 | 28 |
CR Belouizdad | 15 | 26 |
JS Kabylie | 15 | 25 |
Paradou AC | 15 | 23 |
CS Constantine | 15 | 23 |
USM Alger | 14 | 22 |
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