MEDENINE, Tunisia (Interstat) — CO Medenine scored twice in a three-minute span late in the second half and defeated Olympique Kef 2-1 Tuesday at Stade de Medenine in Medenine, also rendered Madanīyīn. The home side broke through in the 77th minute and added another goal in the 79th, then held off Olympique Kef’s response to secure its first victory in the competition this season. The home team’s late surge decided a match that had produced no goals through the first 76 minutes. CO Medenine improved to 1-4 in the competition and 1-4 across all competitions, while Olympique Kef dropped to 1-3 in the competition and 1-3 overall. The result left both clubs with matching competition and all-competitions records.

Alaeddine Abdelwahed of CO Medenine had the top listed performance with 90 minutes played and one goal. He opened the scoring in the 77th minute. Khatfia H. scored CO Medenine’s second goal in the 79th minute. Ahmed Rahali of Olympique Kef also played 90 minutes and scored once, accounting for the visiting side’s one goal. The goal sequence for CO Medenine moved from Abdelwahed to Khatfia in quick succession, turning a scoreless match into a two-goal lead for the home team. Rahali’s goal was the only scoring entry for Olympique Kef in the final summary, while Abdelwahed and Khatfia supplied CO Medenine’s two goals. Olympique Kef’s single goal kept the match within reach, but CO Medenine maintained its advantage through the final whistle.

The result ended a difficult run for CO Medenine, which had lost its previous four matches in the competition. Those defeats included a 3-0 loss at EGS Gafsa, a 3-0 home loss to Kasserine, a 1-0 defeat at Ksour Essef and a 2-1 home loss to Kalaa. The four losses had left CO Medenine searching for its first result of the campaign before the home fixture. CO Medenine’s season record in the competition is now 1-4, and its record across all competitions is also 1-4. The club’s first win of the campaign came at home in a match that remained tight until the closing stages.

Olympique Kef’s previous results this season included a 1-2 loss at Korba, a 3-2 home win over EGS Gafsa and a 0-1 loss at Kasserine. Olympique Kef’s earlier win over EGS Gafsa remained its only victory in the competition before the trip to Medenine. The club’s season record in the competition is now 1-3, and its record across all competitions is also 1-3. Olympique Kef had entered the match with one win from its first three competition matches, but it could not add a second victory despite Rahali’s goal. The visiting side’s one-goal output was not enough to counter CO Medenine’s late surge.

CO Medenine’s victory came at Stade de Medenine in Medenine, also rendered Madanīyīn, where the home team’s late scoring changed the match. Abdelwahed’s 77th-minute goal gave CO Medenine the lead, and Khatfia’s 79th-minute strike doubled it. The visitors’ response came through Rahali, but CO Medenine kept its lead intact over the closing minutes. Olympique Kef answered with Rahali’s goal, but CO Medenine held firm over the remainder of the match. The home side’s two-goal burst proved decisive in a contest that had been scoreless until the late going. The final minutes passed without another goal.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of CO Medenine 1, Olympique Kef 1. The simulator forecast a draw, and the ELO model favored the home side. Interstat’s ELO system had projected CO Medenine with a 64 percent probability to win. The total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.5.