MASCARA, Algeria (Interstat) — GC Mascara produced a dominant first-half display and defeated visiting Hussein Dey 5-1 on Friday at Stade Aoued Meflah. The home side set the tone almost immediately, pressed forward with purpose and turned the match into a one-sided contest well before the interval. Hussein Dey struggled to contain GC Mascara’s attacking rhythm and spent much of the opening period defending deep. By the time the visitors adjusted, GC Mascara had already established firm control of the game and the scoreline reflected the hosts’ superiority. The home team’s movement off the ball created space and forced Hussein Dey into repeated defensive retreats.

GC Mascara opened the scoring in the 5th minute and doubled its advantage in the 12th. The hosts continued to dictate play and added a third goal in the 31st minute. Another goal in the 43rd minute capped a punishing first half and gave GC Mascara a commanding cushion at the break. Hussein Dey’s defense was repeatedly stretched, and the visiting side had few answers for the home team’s quick combination play and sustained pressure. Hussein Dey’s best moments came on rare counterattacks, but the visitors could not turn them into meaningful chances until late. The match’s decisive passage came during that opening 45 minutes, when GC Mascara repeatedly broke through and removed much of the suspense from the contest.

Hussein Dey found a consolation goal in the 82nd minute, briefly interrupting GC Mascara’s control. The visitors’ breakthrough came too late to threaten the result, and GC Mascara responded in the 86th minute with its fifth goal of the night. That final strike restored the four-goal cushion and closed out the scoring. Hussein Dey’s late goal offered only a minor consolation on a difficult evening, while GC Mascara finished the match with the same authority it had shown for most of the first half. The hosts managed the closing stages comfortably and protected their advantage without allowing the visitors to build sustained momentum. GC Mascara’s defense remained compact after the restart and limited Hussein Dey’s clearest openings until the late breakthrough.

The result left Hussein Dey with a season record in this competition of 3 wins and 5 losses. GC Mascara’s season record in this competition is now 6 wins, no losses and 3 draws. Hussein Dey’s record across all competitions is also 3 wins and 5 losses, while GC Mascara’s mark across all competitions is also 6 wins, no losses and 3 draws. GC Mascara remained unbeaten in the competition and continued a strong run that has included wins over Kolea, Harrach and Sidi Benali as well as draws against USM Blida, MCEB and El Bayadh. Hussein Dey, meanwhile, had entered the match after a 1-0 home win over Arba but had also endured recent losses to USM Blida and Mostaganem.

GC Mascara’s performance was built on early pressure and efficient finishing. The home team scored at regular intervals during the first half and kept Hussein Dey from settling into a defensive rhythm. Once the hosts built a large lead, they were able to control possession and limit the visitors’ chances until the late goal. Hussein Dey showed some fight in the closing minutes, but the match had already been decided by GC Mascara’s blistering start. The victory kept GC Mascara’s unbeaten record intact and handed Hussein Dey another setback in a season that has produced mixed results. The home side’s finishing punished Hussein Dey’s defensive lapses, and the visitors were unable to match GC Mascara’s intensity over the full match.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of GC Mascara 1, Hussein Dey 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected GC Mascara with a 68.1 percent probability to win. GC Mascara had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1. The total score of 6 went under the over/under line of 2.5.