USM Khenchela 1-1 CR Témouchent: Late Pressure Not Enough as Points Are Shared

USM Khenchela and CR Témouchent drew 1-1 in Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 action on 8 November 2026, with the hosts rescued by a second-half equaliser after falling behind at the Stade Hammam Amar. It was a match of two distinct halves: Témouchent were sharper before the break, while Khenchela dominated the closing stages.

The result extends Khenchela's home resilience but leaves them frustrated at not converting a strong second-half performance into three points. Témouchent, meanwhile, will take satisfaction from an away point earned through defensive discipline and a well-taken first-half goal.

Match overview

Témouchent began with a clear plan: stay compact, deny Khenchela space in midfield and attack quickly when the opportunity arose. That approach worked well in the opening half-hour, and the visitors took the lead with a move that cut through the home defence.

Khenchela responded after the interval with greater urgency. They pushed their wingers higher, increased the tempo of their passing and began to create chances from crosses and set pieces. The equaliser arrived midway through the second half, and the hosts went close to a winner several times thereafter.

Key moments

• 34th minute: CR Témouchent took the lead when Sofiane Belkacem found space at the edge of the box and placed a low shot into the corner.
• 45+1st minute: Khenchela nearly responded before half-time, but a header from a corner was cleared off the line.
• 69th minute: The hosts equalised through Ilyes Bouzid, who arrived in the box to turn home a cross from the right.
• 76th minute: Khenchela forced a fine save from the Témouchent goalkeeper with a curling effort from distance.
• 86th minute: A goalmouth scramble ended with the ball being hacked clear as the home crowd sensed a winner.

Tactical story

Khenchela's second-half improvement came from playing with more width and tempo. Their full-backs pushed higher, allowing the wide players to attack the penalty area, and the midfield began to win more second balls. The equaliser was a direct result of that sustained pressure.

Témouchent's first-half performance was built on compactness and smart transitions. They limited Khenchela's central creativity and used Belkacem's movement to lead the line. As the game wore on, however, their defensive line dropped deeper, and they struggled to relieve pressure with sustained possession.

Standout players

Bouzid was Khenchela's most influential player, driving forward from midfield and scoring the crucial equaliser. His ability to arrive late in the box gave the hosts a different attacking dimension after the break.

For Témouchent, Belkacem's goal was the highlight of a tireless performance, while their goalkeeper made several important saves to keep the visitors level. The away side's central defenders also deserve credit for withstanding heavy late pressure.

Table and season impact

Both sides add a point to their Ligue Professionnelle 1 totals, but the mood will differ. Khenchela will be pleased with the character shown after falling behind, although the missed chances will linger. Témouchent will view the draw as a solid away result against a team that finished the stronger.

With the season beginning to take shape, Khenchela need to convert home dominance into victories if they are to push up the table. Témouchent, meanwhile, can use this performance as a template for away matches: compact, organised and dangerous on the break.