ALGIERS, Algeria (Interstat) — Substitute Oussama Bentaleb delivered a stunning two-goal performance off the bench to propel visiting Saoura to a 2-1 upset victory over USM Alger in an Algerian Ligue 1 match on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, defying pregame projections that heavily favored the hosts.

The match, contested before a crowd at Stade du 5 Juillet 1962, was a tale of contrasting fortunes, with Saoura’s clinical finishing overcoming a dominant statistical probability held by USM Alger. Pre-match analysis from Interstat gave USM Alger a 73.70 percent chance of victory, with its game simulator predicting a 1-1 draw. Instead, Saoura seized control early and never relinquished it.

Bentaleb announced his impact almost immediately after entering the fray. In the 8th minute, he found space and fired a shot past the USM Alger goalkeeper for a right-footed goal, silencing the home supporters and giving the visitors a shock early lead. He was not finished. Just past the half-hour mark, in the 39th minute, Bentaleb struck again, this time with his left foot, to double Saoura’s advantage. His brace, coming in a 31-minute span after his introduction, transformed the complexion of the contest.

USM Alger, now facing a significant deficit, pushed forward in the second half. Their persistence was rewarded when forward Houssam Eddine Ghacha found the net, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The goal was assisted by midfielder Islam Merili, who was later shown a yellow card in the 36th minute. The home side pressed for an equalizer, but Saoura’s defense held firm amid increasing pressure and physical play.

The match’s tension escalated in the final 15 minutes. Saoura substitute Riyane Akacem received a yellow card in the 75th minute. The situation deteriorated for Akacem in the 85th minute when he was shown a second yellow card, resulting in a red card and forcing Saoura to see out the match with 10 men. The incident that led to his dismissal also involved teammate Ilyes Haddouche, who was booked at the same moment. Haddouche, however, had earlier provided a key assist on one of Bentaleb’s goals.

Despite being a man down for the final stages, Saoura managed the game effectively to secure the three points. The result provides a perfect start to Saoura’s Ligue 1 campaign, moving their season record to one win and no losses in the competition. For USM Alger, the defeat marks a disappointing opening, leaving them with a record of zero wins and one loss.

The victory was built on the decisive contribution of Bentaleb, whose scoring prowess off the bench proved insurmountable. Key supporting roles from Ghacha for the hosts and playmakers Merili and Haddouche for the visitors shaped the offensive actions, but the day belonged to Saoura’s super-sub and his team’s resilient defensive stand. The final score of 2-1 served as a stark contrast to the pregame analytics, underscoring the unpredictable nature of football where performance on the pitch ultimately trumps all projections.