Ben Aknoun and US Biskra shared the points in Ligue 1's second round on Thursday evening, the fixture finishing 2-2 at the Stade du 19 Mars. The hosts had taken the lead early, but Biskra's reply before half-time set up a second-half where both sides traded blows. It was a result that kept Biskra's unbeaten run alive and extended Ben Aknoun's mixed start to the campaign.
A. Djabout opened the scoring in the eighth minute, finishing from a tight angle after a quick passing move. Biskra responded almost immediately; M. Belkhadem equalised in the 19th, finding space in the box to fire past the keeper. A. Djabout restored Ben Aknoun's advantage three minutes before the interval, a late strike that sent the home crowd into raptures. Y. Bechou then dragged Biskra level in the 88th, a last-gasp effort that proved just enough for the visitors.
By then the match had settled into a rhythm. Ben Aknoun controlled possession, averaging two-thirds of the ball, and registered 143 attacks compared with Biskra's 102. The visitors managed only two shots on target all evening, yet they took both when it mattered. Ben Aknoun had six on target, but conversion rate tells the story of a side that worked hard without always finding the cutting edge.
Substitutions began in the 46th minute as both managers reshuffled. R. Brahimi came on for the hosts, while Y. Saindou was withdrawn shortly after. The double change in the 64th brought A. Zeke Omwele and M. Belkhadem off for Ben Aknoun, and later in the evening three more pairs entered the fray. The final substitution window saw six players move in one go, a frantic attempt to find a winner.
The result leaves Ben Aknoun fourth in the table with three points from two games, a win and a loss bookending this stalemate. US Biskra occupy second place after their opening victory, and this draw means they remain unbeaten. The gap between them in the standings is now a point, and both sides have shown that the league promises plenty of drama.