Mohamed Al-Tubal's solitary strike just after the hour mark proved decisive as JS Kabylie edged past WA Tlemcen 1-0 in the Coupe de la Ligue semi-final at the Stade du 1er Novembre 1954. The result was a narrow one, and the Lemeister model had reflected the closeness of the contest before kick-off, giving JS Kabylie a 37 per cent chance of winning, with the draw rated at 33 per cent and an away victory at 30 per cent. This projection, which favoured the home side only slightly, was borne out by a match where a single moment separated the teams.
The only goal arrived in the 61st minute, scored by Al-Tubal. It was recorded as a normal goal, meaning no penalty or own goal was involved, and no assist was listed, indicating the strike was not preceded by a pass deemed a key contribution. This proved sufficient to decide the tie, with JS Kabylie's defence holding firm for the remaining half-hour to secure the clean sheet. The absence of any cards suggests a disciplined encounter, with neither side resorting to fouls that crossed the threshold for a booking.
With no shots, possession, pass completion, expected goals or corner statistics provided in the data, the tactical picture must be inferred from the limited numbers available. The lone goal and the clean sheet are the only concrete offensive and defensive measures. The JS Kabylie backline, though unnamed individually, evidently contained whatever threat WA Tlemcen could muster. The away side were unable to force the home goalkeeper into a save that might have altered the outcome, suggesting their attacking efforts lacked the necessary precision or were well-marshalled.
Both sides made use of their substitutes, with JS Kabylie making three changes and WA Tlemcen making four, for a total of seven. The timing of these substitutions relative to the goal is not specified, but the goal arrived early in the second half, and the away side's four changes after that point could not produce an equaliser. The fact that WA Tlemcen made more substitutions indicates they were chasing the game, yet they could not break through the home defence.
Al-Tubal, as the only nameable player, was the match-winner. His goal was the defining individual moment in a contest where opportunities were evidently at a premium. Without further statistics to assess his overall contribution or that of his teammates, it is reasonable to conclude that his strike was the most influential action on the pitch. The lack of any other named players means no assessment can be made of the supporting cast, but the result shows that the team collectively executed the task required.
The result means JS Kabylie advance to the Coupe de la Ligue final, having navigated a semi-final that the Lemeister model saw as a near-even contest. For WA Tlemcen, the defeat ends their cup run at the penultimate hurdle, a narrow margin that will likely feel frustrating given how little separated the teams on the night. The victory was achieved without any named player needing to stand out in other statistical categories, and it was the single moment of quality from Al-Tubal that decided the tie.
