Raja de Beni Mellal 3–2 MCO Mouloudia Oujda
Morocco Botola 2 | 23 May 2026, 23:00

Match Summary

Raja de Beni Mellal came from behind to claim a dramatic 3–2 victory over MCO Mouloudia Oujda in a pulsating Botola 2 clash at the Stade Municipal de Beni Mellal. Five goals, a missed penalty, and a red card made for a breathless contest that swung one way and then the other before the hosts finally secured the win late on.

First Half: Oujda Strike First

Mouloudia Oujda started brightly and took the lead in the 12th minute. A swift counter‑attack caught the Beni Mellal defence off guard, and winger Youssef El Amrani slotted past goalkeeper Yassine Hamzaoui. The visitors doubled their advantage just before the half‑hour mark when striker Adil Belhaj headed home from a corner, leaving the home side shell‑shocked at 2–0 down.

Beni Mellal responded well, pressing high and forcing errors. Their pressure paid off in the 38th minute when a deflected shot from midfielder Zakaria Khellaf found its way into the net, making it 2–1 just before half‑time. The goal gave the hosts renewed belief heading into the break.

Second Half: Dramatic Turnaround

The second half exploded into life. Beni Mellal came out with intensity and equalised in the 54th minute through a well‑worked move. Forward Mohamed Alaoui latched onto a through ball before calmly finishing past Oujda keeper Soufiane El Harrak. The stadium erupted as the score became 2–2.

Oujda were then reduced to ten men in the 67th minute when defender Karim Benjelloun received his second yellow card for a late challenge. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Oujda almost regained the lead when they were awarded a penalty in the 73rd minute. However, Belhaj’s spot‑kick was brilliantly saved by Hamzaoui, diving to his left.

The reprieve proved decisive. With five minutes of normal time remaining, Beni Mellal won a free‑kick on the edge of the box. Substitute midfielder Reda El Maghraoui curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner, giving the hosts a 3–2 lead that they held onto through six minutes of stoppage time.

Tactical Analysis

Beni Mellal’s high‑press after going two goals down disrupted Oujda’s rhythm and forced mistakes. The home side switched from a 4‑2‑3‑1 to a more aggressive 4‑3‑3 in the second half, overwhelming Oujda’s midfield. Oujda, despite the red card, defended resiliently but were ultimately undone by a moment of set‑piece brilliance.

Standout Players

• Reda El Maghraoui (Raja de Beni Mellal) – Came off the bench to score the stunning winning free‑kick and changed the game’s momentum.
• Yassine Hamzaoui (Raja de Beni Mellal) – Made several crucial saves, including the penalty save that kept his side in the match.
• Adil Belhaj (MCO Mouloudia Oujda) – Scored one and won a penalty, but his miss from the spot proved costly.

Season Impact

The win moves Raja de Beni Mellal into the top half of the Botola 2 table, keeping their promotion hopes alive. For Mouloudia Oujda, the defeat is a bitter blow after leading twice, leaving them stuck in mid‑table. Beni Mellal’s comeback spirit will be a major confidence booster as the season enters its decisive phase.