WA Mostaganem vs WA Tlemcen Match Recap - Oct 21, 2025

WA Tlemcen’s Second-Half Rally Sinks WA Mostaganem in Early-Season Six-Pointer

On a brisk afternoon in Algeria’s Ligue 2, where ambitions often hang on the narrowest of margins, WA Tlemcen staged a determined second-half comeback to edge WA Mostaganem 2-1 and vault above their rivals in the standings. In a contest pitting two sides level on points and momentum, it was Tlemcen’s resilience under pressure that ultimately decided a finely balanced encounter whose implications are likely to echo well beyond this autumn.

Both clubs arrived at this sixth-round clash with matching records—three wins, a draw, and a single early setback—in their opening five matches, each amassing 10 points and staking early claims for the promotion chase. WA Mostaganem, notably sturdy at the back in recent weeks, had carved out narrow victories at Béchar Djedid and at home against JS El Biar, while WA Tlemcen entered the tie riding a four-game unbeaten streak and boasting a transformed attacking verve since their defeat at Hussein Dey in September.

If the first half was defined by cagey exchanges and mutual respect, it was Mostaganem who struck first, finding reward for an enterprising spell midway through the opening 45 minutes. A sweeping move down the left culminated in a composed finish—an early testament to the hosts’ patient buildup and recent knack for edging tight encounters. The lead, however, brought neither comfort nor control. Tlemcen responded with urgency, gradually imposing themselves with crisp passing and a measured press that began to expose fissures in Mostaganem’s setup.

The match’s turning point arrived shortly after the interval. Sensing that the game was slipping, Tlemcen’s midfield orchestrated a sharp incursion, threading a precise pass to their forward, who slotted home the equalizer with conviction. The goal ignited the visiting bench and swung the momentum decisively. For Mostaganem, the concession was as much psychological as tactical; their defensive shape, so reliable in previous weeks, began to waver as Tlemcen’s confidence grew.

With the contest suddenly open, both sides carved out half-chances, but it was Tlemcen who capitalized on a defensive lapse just beyond the hour mark. A surging run down the right forced Mostaganem’s back line into disarray, and a low cross found its mark for the visitors’ go-ahead strike. The celebrations from the traveling supporters—many of whom made the journey in hope more than expectation—spoke to the significance. In a league notorious for its parity, three points away from home against a direct competitor is a rare and valuable prize.

The closing minutes brought drama befitting the stakes. Mostaganem, stung by the reversal, committed numbers forward in search of an equalizer, only to see their efforts repeatedly denied by a disciplined Tlemcen rear guard and some timely goalkeeping. A late booking threatened to boil over into something more—tempers frayed, fouls accumulated, but the referee’s restraint kept both sides at full strength through the final whistle.

For WA Mostaganem, the loss marks only their second setback in six but arrives at a crucial juncture. Their recent run—three wins, a draw, and now two defeats—reveals a side still searching for balance between defensive solidity and the creative spark needed to kill off matches against the division’s best. The defeat sees them stagnate on 10 points, their ambitions momentarily checked, as Tlemcen leapfrog into the top six, now joint with the division’s early pace-setters but ahead by virtue of today’s head-to-head triumph.

WA Tlemcen’s victory, meanwhile, is laden with context. Just five weeks removed from a disappointing start, they now appear a side transformed: compact when required, incisive when permitted, and—after this demonstration—capable of outfoxing direct rivals on their travels. With three wins and a draw from their last four, and a statement win now on the ledger, their promotion credentials look increasingly legitimate.

While these two sides lack an extensive shared history—this fixture rarely determined by reputation—the rivalry inherited new weight this afternoon. The narrow scoreline, the shifting tides of momentum, and the consequence for the league table all but guarantee that the return leg will be circled in both dressing rooms as a potential season-definer.

As the dust settles, the implications for the coming weeks are clear. WA Mostaganem must regroup swiftly, recalibrating both tactics and mindset ahead of a pivotal stretch in the crowded Ligue 2 race. For Tlemcen, belief will only grow: on a day when margins were slim, it was their composure and opportunism that tipped the balance. In a campaign defined by such knife-edge margins, it is those who prevail in these moments who usually write their names into the season’s decisive chapters.