RC Kouba produced a dominant away performance to defeat ESM Kolea 3-0 in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 2 on Saturday, September 19, 2026. The visitors were sharper in both boxes, scored at key moments, and kept a clean sheet to underline their promotion credentials.

Match overview

ESM Kolea started the game with plenty of possession but struggled to turn that territory into clear chances. RC Kouba sat in a compact mid-block, invited pressure, and then broke forward with speed. The plan worked perfectly, as the visitors scored twice in the first half and added a third after the interval to put the result beyond doubt.

Kolea’s evening became more difficult when they missed a penalty early in the second half. That moment could have brought them back into the contest, but RC Kouba responded immediately by controlling the next phase of the game and killing off any hope of a comeback.

Key moments

• 12th minute – ESM Kolea 0-1: Yacine Belkacem opened the scoring with a low finish after a driving run from midfield.
• 29th minute – ESM Kolea 0-2: Sofiane Haddadi doubled the lead, curling a shot beyond the goalkeeper from the edge of the box.
• 55th minute: ESM Kolea won a penalty, but the RC Kouba goalkeeper guessed correctly and made a crucial save.
• 64th minute – ESM Kolea 0-3: Belkacem scored his second of the night, finishing off a fast counterattack.

Tactical story

RC Kouba’s midfield trio dictated the rhythm of the match. They pressed intelligently, won second balls, and prevented ESM Kolea from playing through the centre. When Kolea tried to go long, the visitors’ centre-backs dealt with the danger comfortably.

Going forward, RC Kouba were ruthless. Their transitions were quick, and they consistently found space behind Kolea’s advanced full-backs. The penalty miss was the home side’s best chance, but even at 2-0 the visitors looked the more composed team.

Standout players

Yacine Belkacem was the clear man of the match with two well-taken goals and constant movement that unsettled the Kolea defence. Sofiane Haddadi controlled the midfield and added a goal of his own, while RC Kouba’s goalkeeper deserved credit for the penalty save that preserved the clean sheet. For ESM Kolea, the captain tried to drive the team forward, but support was limited on a difficult night.

Season impact

This result sends a strong message in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 2 promotion race. RC Kouba’s away form will be a major asset if they are to challenge at the top of the table, while ESM Kolea must regroup quickly and find a way to turn possession into goals. The head-to-head record now favours RC Kouba after a clinical and mature display.

Final score: ESM Kolea 0-3 RC Kouba.