DÉLY IBRAHIM, Algeria (Interstat) — Mohamed Bouderbala scored in the 31st minute and USM Alger defeated Saoura 1-0 on Tuesday at Stade du 5 Juillet 1962. Haithem Loucif provided the assist on the only goal. The win moved USM Alger to 3 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw in the competition, while Saoura dropped to 0 wins, 2 losses and 3 draws. USM Alger also stands at 3 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw across all competitions, and Saoura is 0 wins, 2 losses and 3 draws overall. Saoura was unable to produce an equalizer after Bouderbala’s finish. The victory gave USM Alger its third win in five competition matches, while Saoura remained without a win in five competition matches.

Bouderbala’s goal came midway through the first half and proved decisive. Loucif recorded the assist while playing the entire match. Bouderbala later was involved in a substitution in the 69th minute, after he had given USM Alger the lead. Saoura could not produce an equalizer. The visitors finished the match without a goal, extending a scoreless run in their recent results. The only goal arrived in the 31st minute, and USM Alger never surrendered the advantage.

Yellow cards followed in the closing stages. Saoura’s Tra Bi Tra was shown a yellow card in the 60th minute. USM Alger’s Gherbi M. A. was booked in the 73rd minute, and Azzi I. followed in the 78th. Saoura’s Wayou C. received a yellow card in the 90+3rd minute. The cards came after the only goal, which was scored by Bouderbala. USM Alger protected its narrow advantage through the final whistle.

Substitutions began at halftime. USM Alger made a change involving Chetti I. in the 46th minute, and Saoura made a change involving Bentaleb O. at the same point. Saoura made another substitution in the 57th minute with Dahamni K. In the 69th minute, USM Alger had substitutions involving Bouderbala M., Kamagate D. and Boulaya F., while Saoura made a change involving Fettouhi N. E. I. USM Alger used a substitution involving Likonza G. in the 85th minute. Saoura then made two changes in the 87th minute involving Ashiraf O. and Atallah I. The flurry of moves did not change the score.

Saoura entered the match after a 0-0 home draw with Olympique Akbou and a 0-0 home draw with Khenchela. It also had a 0-0 draw at Biskra and a 4-0 loss at El Biar. USM Alger arrived after a 1-0 loss at MB Rouisset, a 3-2 win at O Akbou, a 2-0 home win over El Biar and a 0-0 draw at Khenchela. The result left Saoura at 0 wins, 2 losses and 3 draws overall, and USM Alger at 3 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw overall.

USM Alger’s schedule ahead includes a home match against Saoura, followed by trips to Constantine and Ben Aknoun. Later fixtures include a home match against Oran, a trip to Kabylie, a home match against MC Alger, a trip to CR Temouchent, a home match against Chlef, a trip to Setif and a home match against Biskra. Saoura’s upcoming slate includes trips to Belouizdad and MB Rouissat, followed by home matches against Constantine, Kabylie and Oran, a trip to MC Alger and a home match against CR Temouchent. Saoura also is set to visit Chlef and host Setif and Biskra. Both sides continue their league schedules after the result.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of USM Alger 1, Saoura 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Saoura with a 51.2 percent probability to win. USM Alger instead claimed the 1-0 victory, with Bouderbala’s 31st-minute goal and Loucif’s assist making the difference.