OUARGLA, Algeria (Interstat) — Messaoud Midoune scored in the seventh minute and MB Rouisset made that early goal stand for a 1-0 victory over Saoura at Stade OPOW de Rouissat. The home side took the lead when Midoune converted the game’s only goal, and the visitors could not produce an equalizer. MB Rouisset’s record in the competition is now 3 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw, while Saoura is now 0 wins, 3 losses and 4 draws in the competition. Both marks match the teams’ records across all competitions. The result left MB Rouisset unbeaten and Saoura still searching for a first win.

The decisive moment arrived early. Midoune’s seventh-minute finish gave MB Rouisset a lead it never lost, and Saoura’s response became more difficult in the 30th minute when Benmiloud A. was shown a red card. The sending off left Saoura a player short for the remainder of the match and forced the visitors into an uphill chase. Saoura made a substitution at halftime, bringing on Belghanami M., but the visitors could not break through. MB Rouisset protected the one-goal margin through the second half and kept Saoura off the scoreboard. Saoura continued to press after the interval but could not turn possession into a goal.

The second half included several cautions. Allaoui K. of Saoura was booked in the 47th minute, Tlili M. of MB Rouisset received a yellow card in the 51st, Benyahia D. of Saoura was booked in the 77th and Saoura was shown another yellow card in the 90th minute. MB Rouisset made three changes in the 64th minute involving Hamroune R., Tlili M. and Amokrane A. Saoura brought on Ashiraf O. in the 70th minute and Fettouhi N. E. I. in the 79th. MB Rouisset introduced Hend B. in the 80th minute and El Orfi A. in the 85th, and Saoura’s Daibeche O. entered in the 86th.

Messaoud Midoune played 90 minutes and scored one goal, providing the finish that separated the teams. MB Rouisset did not add another goal after the seventh minute, but it did not need one. Saoura, playing a man down after the red card, could not find a response. The visiting side finished with no goals, while MB Rouisset closed out the victory at Stade OPOW de Rouissat in Ouargla. The match ended with MB Rouisset ahead 1-0. Midoune’s goal remained the difference as the home side saw out the closing stages.

The win continued MB Rouisset’s strong start in the competition. The club is 3 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw in the competition and across all competitions. Saoura is 0 wins, 3 losses and 4 draws in the competition and across all competitions. Saoura has now drawn four and lost three in the competition, while MB Rouisset has won three and drawn one.

Saoura entered the match after a scoreless draw at CR Belouizdad and a 1-0 loss at USM Alger. Its recent run also included scoreless draws with Olympique Akbou and Khenchela, a 0-0 draw at Biskra and a 4-0 loss at El Biar. MB Rouisset had drawn 0-0 with Ben Aknoun, won 2-0 at CR Temouchent and beaten USM Alger 1-0 at home. Those results framed the matchup between a Saoura side still seeking its first win and an MB Rouisset team protecting an unbeaten record.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of MB Rouisset 1, Saoura 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected MB Rouisset with a 52 percent probability to win. MB Rouisset had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 1 went over the over/under line of 1.5.