CONSTANTINE, Algeria (Interstat) — CS Constantine opened its Algerian Ligue 1 campaign with a decisive 2-0 victory over Paradou AC on Friday at Stade Mohamed-Hamlaoui, defying a pregame projection of a draw with a late offensive surge.

The match, a physical and often cagey affair that produced four yellow cards before the first goal, was decided in the final minutes as the home side capitalized on its depth and attacking pressure. The result handed Paradou AC a loss to start its league season.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-1 final score, and its ELO rating system gave Constantine a 72.7% probability to win. The home side ultimately validated that favored status, but needed patience to break down a stubborn Paradou defense.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 80th minute. Substitute Abdeldjalil Tahri, who had entered the match and later received a yellow card, was instrumental in creating the opener. He provided the assist for forward Dadi Mouaki, who finished clinically to give Constantine a 1-0 lead and shift the momentum entirely.

Rather than sit back, Constantine pressed for a second to secure the points. It arrived in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, again created from the bench. Another substitute, Sid Ahmed Lahmer, registered an assist to seal the victory. His pass found forward Tosin Omoyele, who netted the insurance goal to complete the 2-0 scoreline.

The match’s key performances underscored Constantine’s effective use of substitutions and multi-faceted attack. While starters like midfielder Nassim L’Ghoul and defender Houari Baouche each recorded an assist, the decisive contributions came from Tahri and Lahmer after their introductions. Goal-scorers Mouaki and Omoyele provided the finishing touches on a afternoon where the home side’s persistence paid off.

Discipline was a theme throughout the contest, with referee Issam Boussif distributing four cautions. Nassim L’Ghoul of Constantine was booked in the 14th minute, setting a tense tone. He was followed by teammates Tahri in the 37th minute and Houari Baouche in the 58th. Paradou’s Sid Ahmed Lahmer also saw a yellow card in the 64th minute, prior to his assist on the final goal.

With the win, CS Constantine begins its Ligue 1 season with a perfect record of one win and no losses, also improving its mark across all competitions. Paradou AC starts its league campaign with one loss and no wins, mirroring its overall record.

The victory provides a strong foundation for Constantine’s domestic aspirations, demonstrating an ability to secure results through strategic changes and late-game execution. For Paradou AC, the match highlighted defensive resilience for large stretches but an inability to contain Constantine’s attacking depth over the full 90 minutes. Both teams will continue their Algerian Ligue 1 schedules next week.