MCA hammer Oran, retake D1 lead

2009-11-08

Day 12 of Algeria's top football league saw a big win for new leaders MCA, while USMH continued to tumble with a fourth consecutive loss.

By Lyes Aflou for Magharebia in Algiers – 08/11/09

[File] MCA smashed MCO 4-1 on Saturday to take the D1 lead.

MC Algiers retook the Algerian D1 league lead, thanks to a comfortable 4-1 home victory over MC Oran on Day 12, which ended Saturday (November 7th).

Fans concerned after MCA's Day 11 defeat were thrilled. With 23 points, the team from Algiers still have a game in hand against USM El Harrach, which could enable them to extend their one-point lead over rivals USM Annaba.

Meanwhile, third-ranked WA Tlemcen missed an opportunity to climb to second when they tied 0-0 at home against AS Khroub. USM Annaba, who played away against USM Blida, also drew 0-0.

The surprise of Day 12 came courtesy of USM El Harrach, who lost at home against ES Setif – their fourth defeat in a row. This contrasted with their auspicious start to the season, when they shared the lead for a time with MCA; the two teams are scheduled to face off in an extra game.

Another unexpected result was MC El Eulma's 2-1 win in Algiers over NA Hussein Dey. The loss led to the sudden resignation of NAHD manager Mustapha Benzekri.

"I wasn't able to get things moving. It just never happened, so I have to go," he told journalists. This is the second manager NAHD have lost since the beginning of the season after the sacking of Bouzidi, who is now with JSM Skikda.

While the ASO Chlef vs. USM Alger (2-0) and CAB Bordj Bou Arreridj vs. CR Belouizdad (1-0) matches went according to expectations, this was not the case with the contest between CA Batna and JSM Bejaia, which ended in a 0-0 draw that was to the advantage of the Bejaouis.

Now without a manager after the predictable departure of Jean-Christian Lang, JS Kabylie was fortunate enough to play last-placed MSP Batna, winning 2-1 at home. The squad is currently overseen by former player Mourad Karouf, with assistance from Arezki Amrouche.

According to JSK Chairman Mohand Cherif Hannachi, media guesses regarding Lang's replacement are all wrong, "None of the Algerian managers who have been mentioned in the newspapers have even been contacted by JSK," he said.

"In any case, I can tell you that I have four CVs of foreign managers on my desk, and I will take all the time I need to choose one of them. What's more, I don't think JSK will recruit an Algerian manager because if we're going to have one, I'd rather keep Karouf and Amrouche, who know the team well," Hannachi told journalists.