Wydad Casablanca and MC Alger drew 1-1 in the 2020/2021 CAF Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash at the Stade du 5 Juliet in Algiers on Friday.
The second-leg encounter will be played at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca next week Saturday.
Alger looked for a quick opener on 13 minutes, but Wydad goalkeeper Ahmed Tagnaouti thwarted Isla Diamonde and Toufik Addadi’s follow-up attempt.
Wydad themselves pushed for an away goal in the opening exchanges, but the defensive rear-guard from the Peoples Club kept the Moroccans at bay.
Bilel Bensaha kept the Alger defence busy with his off-the-ball runs, with Walid Allati unable to find target from a side-foot delivery by Diamonde in the opening 25 minutes.
Wydad continued pushing on the half-hour mark, but El Kaabi fired straight at Ahmed Boutagga after the hosts failed to clear their lines.
Simon Msuva threatened the opener seven minutes later with a back-heel inside the area, but Boutagga’s reflexes saved the day.
Alger started the second half brightly as they looked to take lead and they were unfortunate not to score the opener goal through Toufik Addadi.
The Algerian international hit the upright with a header with Tagnaouti well-beaten, after the visitors had failed to clear a corner-kick.
The WAC ended their long-standing goal-drought as Yahya Jabrane converted a penalty in the 66th minute.
Jabrane had a chance to grab his brace from a free-kick on the 77th minute and extend the lead for the visitors .However, Ahmed Boutagga was alert and he made a comfortable save to deny the hard-working centre forward.
Wydad were silenced in the 83rd minute as the hosts equalized. Miloud Rebiai headed home Walid Allati’s delightful free-kick to make it 1-1 for Alger with the WAC defence exposed.
The visitors should’ve had the front through a close-range effort from El Kaabi following a cross-field ball, but he went straight at Boutagga
However, MC Alger defended well in the latter stages of the game and ultimately, the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
