It ended goalless between Cape Town City and USM Alger in the first leg of their CAF Confederations Cup tie at the DHL Stadium on Wednesday evening.
After City were awarded an earlier corner, a chance fell for Taariq Fielies, but the towering central defender couldn’t get his second-minute chance on target.
It was City who took the early initiative and started to create half chances, Khanyisa Mayo shooting over in the 13th minute, after some sustained pressure. Thabo Nodada’s 28th-minute effort went high and wide.
The Algerians finally got their first chance in the 37th minute, and it was a dangerous powerfully struck effort by Aimen Mahious, but Darren Keet made himself big and pulled off a top save.
Another chance fell to Mayo two minutes before half-time, but this time Oussama Benbot saved at the near post. A minute later Nodada’s long-range effort was off target.
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Goalless at the break, it was a slow start to the second half as the Algerians were happy to sit back and allow City to have possession.
City were awarded a free kick in the 65th minute in a dangerous position, but Mpho Makola’s attempt went just over Benbot’s goal.Another chance fell to Fielies from a corner four minutes later, but he couldn’t keep his header on target.
Thami Mkhize got to the end of a Darwin Gonzalez cross in the 73rd minute, but his effort was always going wide of goal, while a minute later a chance fell for USM but Abderrahmane Meziane headed wide. Meziane went close again in the 77th minute, this time his chance glancing the woodwork and going behind.
Kajally Drammeh, having only just come on, had a great chance in the 79th minute, but was unable to steer his header at goal. Marc Van Heerden’s headed attempt in the 87th minute was also off target.
The two teams will meet in the second leg in Algeria next week, with the winner heading to the Group Stages.
