HOBART, Australia (Interstat) — Olympique Akbou scored twice in a three-minute span in the second half to rally past Ben Aknoun 2-1 at KGV Football Park on Friday. The home side trailed after an early goal but responded after the break to secure the win.

Ben Aknoun struck first in the fifth minute when Abdelkader Tamimi scored. The visitors held that lead through much of the first half, though the match grew increasingly physical. Tamimi was shown a yellow card in the 16th minute. Ben Aknoun’s Chaaraoui was booked in first-half stoppage time, in the second minute of added time. The teams went into the break with Ben Aknoun ahead 1-0. Ben Aknoun tried to protect the early advantage, while Olympique Akbou worked to create chances before halftime. Neither side added another goal before the break.

Olympique Akbou made a change at halftime involving Addadi T. The home side began to press after the restart. Ben Aknoun continued to collect cards, with a yellow card in the 46th minute, another to Boussouf K. in the 51st, and another in the 60th. Olympique Akbou’s Hitala R. was booked in the 61st. The pressure finally told in the 56th minute when Nasreddine Zaalani scored to level the match. Two minutes later, Hicham Messiad scored to put Olympique Akbou ahead. Messiad’s goal in the 58th minute completed the turnaround and proved decisive.

The quick turnaround stunned the visitors, who had taken the lead inside the opening five minutes. Olympique Akbou kept pressing after moving ahead, while Ben Aknoun tried to regroup with substitutions. The visitors’ attempts to find a late equalizer did not produce another goal.

Zaalani’s equalizer was the first of two quick goals for Olympique Akbou. Messiad scored the winner in the 58th minute and was later substituted in the 73rd minute. Ben Aknoun’s Tamimi, who scored in the fifth minute, also received a yellow card. Ben Aknoun made several changes after falling behind, bringing on Selmi H. in the 59th minute, Djahnit A. in the 60th, and both Brahimi R. and Saad A. in the 71st. Olympique Akbou also made substitutions in the 73rd minute involving Zamoum W. and Messiad H., and another in the 81st involving Tahar F. Farhi I. of Olympique Akbou was booked in the 83rd minute. The match’s disciplinary record grew as the second half wore on, with cards shown to both sides. Ben Aknoun received the majority of the bookings, while Olympique Akbou were cautioned twice.

Zaalani finished with one goal while playing the full match. Messiad scored once in 73 minutes. Tamimi scored once and was booked in his 90 minutes. Ben Aknoun’s season record in this competition is now 1 win, 1 loss and 4 draws, also its record across all competitions. Olympique Akbou’s season record in this competition is now 1 win, 0 losses and 2 draws, also its record across all competitions.

Ben Aknoun had entered the match following a run that included a 0-0 draw with USM Alger, a 2-2 draw with El Biar, a 1-1 draw at Khenchela, a 2-2 draw with Biskra and a 1-0 win at Setif. Olympique Akbou had drawn at Saoura in its previous outing. Ben Aknoun is next scheduled to visit MB Rouisset, then face Belouizdad, Constantine, Oran, Kabylie, MC Alger, CR Temouchent, Chlef, Setif and Biskra. Olympique Akbou is next scheduled to visit CR Belouizdad and then Oran.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Olympique Akbou 1, Ben Aknoun 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Olympique Akbou with an 83.1 percent probability to win. Olympique Akbou had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.