A goalless draw between USM Alger and Olympique Safi in the first leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup semi-final leaves the tie delicately balanced ahead of next week’s decisive return in Morocco, after the game dominated by action and a late red card.
Played at the 5 July Stadium in Algiers, the encounter produced no goals but plenty of talking points, shaped the outcome of a tense and often fractious contest.
Despite sustained pressure from the hosts, USM Alger were twice denied by VAR, while Olympique Safi finished the match with 10 men following a late dismissal that could yet prove decisive in the second leg on 19 April.
The first major flashpoint came in the 20th minute when USM Alger players appealed for a penalty after Abdelrahman Khaldi went down inside the box.
The referee booked the winger for simulation after a VAR reveiw in the tightly contested encounter.
That moment set the tone for a half characterised by tension and stop-start rhythm, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut chances. USM Alger enjoyed more possession but found Olympique Safi’s defensive structure difficult to break down.
The visitors, meanwhile, remained disciplined and compact, limiting the hosts to half-chances as the first half ended goalless.
The second half brought more drama, with USM Alger appearing to take the lead in the 54th minute when Zakaria Draoui headed home from close range. However, celebrations were cut short after VAR intervened once again.
Olympique Safi also had their moment of contention shortly after, appealing for a penalty in the 59th minute for a suspected handball, but their claims were dismissed.
USM Alger thought they had found a winner again in the 78th minute when Hussein Dehiri headed into the net, only for the offside flag to deny them a crucial breakthrough.
The drama intensified further in the closing stages when Olympique Safi goalkeeper Hamza Hamiani was sent off in the 80th minute following a VAR review.
Although the goal had already been disallowed for offside, the referee judged that Hamiani had struck a USM Alger defender in the face during the incident, resulting in a straight red card.
Reduced to 10 men, the Moroccan side were forced to defend resolutely in the final minutes as USM Alger pushed for a late winner, but the visitors held firm to secure a draw that keeps their hopes alive.
All to play for in Morocco
With the first leg ending 0-0, the semi-final remains wide open heading into the return fixture at the Olympic Safi Stadium.
USM Alger will rue missed opportunities and contentious decisions, while Olympique Safi will take confidence from their defensive resilience despite finishing with 10 men.
The winner of the tie will face either Zamalek or CR Belouizdad in the final, after the Egyptian side secured a 1-0 away victory in the other semi-final.
