The opening day of Ligue 1 Mobilis concluded on Sunday with a dramatic encounter between ASO Chlef and CRB alongside CS Constantine’s trip to newly promoted Ain Temouchent.
This final fixture stood out thanks to a breathtaking strike from the highly technical Nassim L’Ghoul, who leveled the terms in the 69th minute with a thunderous shot that tore into the nets at Omar Oucief Stadium. CRT had initially grabbed the lead early in the 4th minute through Frifer, settling the final score at 1-1.
Dib’s teammates nevertheless walked away with a sense of unfinished business. Considering the flow of the match, they possessed every chance to return home with all three points. Right from the opening whistle, CSC players took control of the pitch and proved far more threatening than their opponents. The Constantine side created no fewer than four clear-cut chances throughout the contest. Despite placing relentless pressure on the home defense and keeper Saou, they failed to convert their abundant opportunities.
The match scenario had actually pivoted in their favor. CRT opened the scoring in the fourth minute, a goal that forced the hosts to gradually retreat and absorb repeated attacks from Evra Agbagno and his teammates. From his technical area, Mondher Kebaier constantly barked instructions to his squad. The Tunisian tactician repeatedly demanded heightened focus and sharper composure in the final move to turn chances into goals. In the second half, Kebaier turned to his bench to inject fresh energy into his lineup. His tactical choices bore immediate fruit. Barely moments after stepping onto the pitch, Nassim L’Ghoul scored on his very first touch to bring CSC back to level terms (69th).
This equalizer injected fresh momentum into the Constantine side, who pushed forward searching for a late winner. Despite several promising attacks, Kebaier’s men lacked clinical finishing in the penalty area. While CSC may regret missed chances, they owe plenty of gratitude to goalkeeper Mellala. In the closing minutes, he produced crucial saves to deny multiple dangerous attempts from the Temouchent attack. His vital reflexes prevented a late setback, preserving a valuable point on the road.
This first official outing allowed Kebaier to identify key areas for improvement. The top priority remains offensive efficiency and composure in front of the net. While CSC displays impressive attacking patterns, the team must learn to capitalize on its opportunities. This draw remains encouraging, keeping team spirit high ahead of the second matchday when CSC hosts ASO Chlef at Mohamed-Hamlaoui Stadium, aiming to secure their first victory of the campaign before their home crowd.
ASO and CRB Split Points in Six-Goal Thriller
In their first official match of the campaign, CR Belouizdad earned a dramatic draw in Chlef (3-3) following an action-packed encounter. Trailing 2-0 after just five minutes following a quickfire brace by Motrani, Chabab found the resilience to turn the tide and take the lead before the interval.
CRB reacted swiftly to their nightmare start. Djaber Kaassis revived his team in the 13th minute, before Debbari turned the ball into his own net to bring Nabil Maaloul’s side level with ASO. Franck Etouga completed the wild comeback in the 42nd minute, pushing the scoreline to 3-2. Offensively, this opening match confirmed the promise shown during preseason preparations. Creative in possession and dangerous in the final third, CRB mounted continuous attacks that heavily tested the Chlef defense. El-Mellali’s mobility, the contributions of new signings, and varied attacking movement provided plenty of satisfaction for Maaloul.
However, this performance also exposed clear defensive vulnerabilities for Chabab. Individual mistakes, loose marking, and a lack of understanding allowed ASO to claw their way back into a match that appeared lost, courtesy of Bekkouche (79th).
For context, on Friday, JS Kabylie secured a 1-0 home victory against Rouissat, while USMA and USMK fought to a goalless 0-0 draw. On Thursday, Olympique Akbou claimed a 2-0 victory away at El Biar, while Ben Aknoun earned a 1-0 win in Setif.
As a reminder, fixtures involving JS Saoura and MC Alger have been postponed to the 22nd of this month due to their involvement in the Champions League preliminary round.