Sports
MILOUD Rebiai glanced in a header with eight minutes left as home side MC Alger came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with two-time African champions Wydad Club Athletic.
The draw was in the first leg match of the 2020/2021 CAF Champions League quarter-final fixture played in Algiers on Friday.
Wydad had gone ahead through skipper Yahya Jabrane’s penalty kick.
But the home side dug deep into their energy reserves to grab a draw and leave all to play for in the return leg in Casablanca.
The visitors from Morocco had the most chances in the game and hit the woodwork twice in the game.
They threatened from the onset with Ayoub El Kaabi heading wide after 18 minutes off a well-worked move.
In the 35th minute, Wydad thought they had taken the lead when Jabrne headed home off a rebound, only for him to be flagged offside.
The skipper had reacted quickest after El Kaabi’s header off a cross from the left came off the upright.
Four minutes to the break, Wydad were denied by the crossbar once again, this time Aymane El Hassouni’s rasping shot from distance going straight into the woodwork.
In the second half, the visitors were determined to make their chances count.
They were handed an opportunity in the 65th minute when substitute Mohamed Ounanjem was brought down inside the penalty box by Mouaud Hadded.
Skipper Jabrane stepped up and calmly converted.
The home side looked to get their feet back into the match and woke from their slumber.
They had a chance in the 75th minute when Chems Harrag’s dipping shot was turned behind for a corner-kick by the goalkeeper.
Their resilience bore fruit eight minutes to time.
This was when defender Rebiai flicked home a header after rising highest at the edge of the goal area to meet a Harrag delivery off a free-kick.
The home side put in their all in the final minutes of the game to try and get a win at home, but Wydad guarded their rear with astute keenness.
They were however almost caught out in the second minute of added time when substitute Sofiane Abdellaoui went down for a diving header off a Harrag cross.
But he headed inches wide from six yards out.
Wydad host the return leg next weekend in Casablanca.(NAN)
– May 15, 2021 @ 10:58 GMT
Tags: Rebiai secures draw for hosts MC Alger against Wydad
