JS Kabylie and NC Magra played out a 2-2 draw in the Coupe de la Ligue final, a result that, according to the underlying numbers, was a fair reflection of a remarkably even contest. The Lemeister model had entered the match with JS Kabylie as narrow favourites, assigning them a 36 per cent win probability against NC Magra's 30 per cent, but the data from the 120 minutes suggests little separated the sides. The match was decided by four goals, one in each half of normal time and two in extra time, with no cards issued across the entire encounter. The absence of disciplinary action points to a clean, disciplined final, though the lack of detailed shot and possession statistics limits the depth of tactical analysis available.
NC Magra struck first in the 11th minute through A. Demane, a goal that gave the underdogs an early foothold and tested JS Kabylie's resolve as the designated favourite. That lead lasted until the 37th minute, when K. Boualia equalised for JS Kabylie, taking the teams into half-time level. The second half appeared to be heading for a stalemate until the 91st minute, when NC Magra scored again, this time the goal credited to no named player, putting them on the brink of victory. JS Kabylie, however, forced extra time and found an equaliser in the 121st minute through A. Haroun, ensuring the match would proceed to penalties. The timing of the goals, an early opener, a pre-half-time reply, a stoppage-time strike, and a last-gasp equaliser in extra time, illustrates a contest that shifted momentum repeatedly.
Without specific shot, possession, or expected goals data available, the narrative must be drawn from the goal timings and the broader competitive context. NC Magra's ability to score twice, including a late strike in normal time, speaks to their resilience against a side that entered as favourites. JS Kabylie, meanwhile, showed character to reply on both occasions, particularly in the dying seconds of extra time when A. Haroun found the net. The absence of any cards suggests a disciplined contest, though the physical toll of 120 minutes on the Stade du 5 Juillet pitch may have influenced the rhythm of the game, particularly in extra time when both sides appeared to push for a winner without success.
The named players made critical contributions at key moments. A. Demane's 11th-minute goal gave NC Magra the perfect start, putting the underdogs ahead and forcing JS Kabylie into a chase. K. Boualia's 37th-minute equaliser was timely, restoring parity just before the interval and ensuring JS Kabylie entered the second half with momentum. A. Haroun's 121st-minute goal was the most dramatic, a last-ditch equaliser that kept JS Kabylie alive when defeat seemed imminent. These three players were the only ones identifiable from the data, and their goals defined the match's structure.
The lack of detailed statistics makes it impossible to pinpoint which side dominated territory or created the clearer chances, but the 2-2 scoreline across normal and extra time indicates a contest with little between the two. A. Demane's early goal gave NC Magra a platform, while K. Boualia's response before half-time kept JS Kabylie in touch. A. Haroun's intervention in the 121st minute was the decisive moment of a match that refused to yield a winner within regulation or extra time. The equal number of goals in each half of normal time, one each, further underscores the balance.
For JS Kabylie, the result is a missed opportunity to claim silverware as the designated favourite, though the Lemeister model's pre-match projection of a 1-0 victory for them suggests the outcome was always competitive. NC Magra, with a 30 per cent chance of winning according to the model, will feel they came within minutes of a famous triumph, only for a late equaliser to deny them. The final now goes to penalties, where the data provides no further clues, leaving the destiny of the Coupe de la Ligue trophy to be decided from the spot. This leaves both sides with everything to play for in a shootout that will determine the champion of Algeria's league cup.
