US Chaouia vs USM Annaba Match Recap - Oct 21, 2025

Stalemate at Stade Zerdani Hassouna: US Chaouia's Perfect Record Ends in Scoreless Draw with USM Annaba

OUM EL BOUAGHI, Algeria — The bubble had to burst eventually for US Chaouia. After five matches without a loss to open the Algeria Ligue 2 season, the home side's momentum finally hit a wall Tuesday afternoon, settling for a frustrating 0-0 draw against a defensively disciplined USM Annaba side at Stade Zerdani Hassouna.

The result represented a missed opportunity for US Chaouia, who entered the match sitting fifth in the table with 11 points and riding the confidence of three consecutive victories. Their most recent triumph, a spirited 3-2 comeback win at Khroub just four days earlier, had suggested a team capable of grinding out results even when circumstances turned against them. But against Annaba's organized defensive structure, the hosts found no answers.

What unfolded over 90 minutes was a tactical chess match that never quite caught fire. US Chaouia, averaging 1.6 goals per league match this season, struggled to break down a visiting side that had conceded just four goals in five league fixtures. The expected goals battle told the story: Chaouia managed to generate opportunities worth 1.15 xG at home, but Annaba's defensive discipline, anchored by their impressive 0.8 goals conceded average, proved impenetrable.

The draw carries different implications for each side. For US Chaouia, it's a frustrating interruption to what had been a dream start to the campaign. The hosts had scored in every match except one this season, finding the net 10 times across seven fixtures in all competitions. Their inability to convert chances Tuesday represented an uncharacteristic failure for a side that had been clinical in recent weeks, particularly on the road where they'd averaged over two goals per match.

Meanwhile, USM Annaba walked away from Oum El Bouaghi with a point that will feel more like three. The visitors arrived in poor form, licking their wounds from a 1-0 defeat to Nrb Beni Oulbene that had exposed vulnerabilities in their attack. With just five goals scored in league play and a troubling tendency to go silent on the road—averaging a mere 0.33 goals in away fixtures—Annaba's game plan was clear from the opening whistle: protect the point, frustrate the hosts, and escape with something to show for the trip.

The tactical battle played out predictably. US Chaouia controlled possession and probed for openings, but Annaba sat deep and compact, content to absorb pressure. Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested with the kind of clear-cut chances that decide matches at this level. The stalemate extended Annaba's curious pattern of being far more effective at home, where they've won both matches with six goals scored, than on their travels, where they've managed just one goal across three fixtures.

The result leaves US Chaouia in fifth place with 12 points from six matches, maintaining their unbeaten record but sacrificing ground in what promises to be a tightly contested promotion race. Their 3-2-1 record remains impressive, yet the dropped points at home—where they've now drawn twice in just three fixtures—could prove costly as the season progresses. Teams with title aspirations must capitalize on home fixtures, and Tuesday's blank represents two points lost rather than one gained.

For USM Annaba, the draw lifts them to nine points and eighth place, offering a measure of redemption after last week's disappointing loss. Their defensive organization remains their calling card, and if they can find a way to replicate their home attacking form on the road, they possess the foundation to climb the table.

The contrast between the two sides' trajectories coming into this match made the scoreless result all the more surprising. US Chaouia had been riding a wave of attacking momentum, while Annaba had stumbled into town struggling to find the net. Yet football's beautiful unpredictability produced a result that favored neither, leaving both sides to ponder missed opportunities as the league season enters its crucial middle phase.

For US Chaouia, the challenge ahead is clear: rediscover their scoring touch and convert home advantage into three-point hauls. For Annaba, the task remains finding offensive solutions away from home while maintaining the defensive solidity that earned them a valuable point Tuesday. In a league where margins are thin and every point matters, this goalless draw may prove more significant than either side realizes when the final table takes shape months from now.