00:01I'll be hoping that he can get it going.
00:04And we're away here.
00:06Taken by ambush slightly by the whistle,
00:08but the game has begun,
00:10and already Drowie is making his way up and launches.
00:16A long ball that's easily dealt with.
00:21They're really to Lucif.
00:27Already a really good challenge.
00:30From Firhani.
00:35And if you're just joining us,
00:36welcome to the first leg semi-final.
00:39USMA Algier taking on Olympic Safi in Algiers.
00:46And which side can get things going, get the ball moving?
00:53A poor pass from Malone to Mahruz,
00:56and it gives the visitors a chance to compose themselves.
01:03Oh, two coaches.
01:06Prowl up and down.
01:09It's kept going, but it is well defended.
01:14IMK here.
01:16Another good interception.
01:17Gacha now.
01:18Finds Tendeng.
01:20Tendeng.
01:21Thought he saw the run.
01:23Oh, it's the right proactive type of football that you want to see.
01:27Balls come through now.
01:30That was Canous.
01:31First time we've seen him involved.
01:33And it's taken quickly here.
01:34Here is Canous.
01:35Plays the ball into the box.
01:36Oh, really unlucky.
01:38Came out of nowhere.
01:41Erahouli combining.
01:46He caught the host snapping.
01:54And the blushes are spared.
01:57But a subtle, subtle, well, not subtle, Tendeng.
02:04Oh, he's missed his challenge.
02:06And here comes Cadley.
02:07Cadley into the box.
02:09Goes down.
02:10The referee says no penalty,
02:12and he will give a yellow card to Cadley.
02:14VAR will probably have a look.
02:17The Ronaldo chop into the inside.
02:22Well, need to have another look at this before we make any decisions.
02:26The referee is clear.
02:28He thinks it was a dive.
02:34Tried to take it back inside.
02:37The trailing leg from Carmoone.
02:41Does catch.
02:42But is it enough?
02:43Who instigates the contact?
02:48Well, I think VAR will have to have a look at this.
02:56There's definite contact.
03:08And the referee will go to the monitor.
03:17Let's have a look at it.
03:18Let's have a look at it.
03:18This is the same pictures that the referee will be seeing.
03:23VAR obviously introduced for the knockout stages of this tournament.
03:28Great to see African football.
03:31Getting the due officiating that it really deserves.
03:40And the fourth official having to guard the referee from process stations from both sides.
03:45Check has been completed.
03:50And the original decision is upheld.
03:53Very, very rare to see that actually.
03:56Usually when officials directed to the monitor.
04:00Statistically, the decision changes.
04:02And Mr. Omar.
04:06Played in now.
04:07Free header.
04:08Oh, he should have scored.
04:12Mahlouz with an absolute guilt.
04:15He was completely unmarked.
04:17And if anything, he jumped too early.
04:21And that, far and away, is the best chance of the game.
04:29Cannot give someone that much time and space.
04:33And it is a...
04:38Oh, it's a poor back pass.
04:40Oh, and he had a man going on the side.
04:42Lovely back heel.
04:43Canoose.
04:44Really nice ball.
04:45Chance here.
04:46Great save from the goalkeeper.
04:51I think it was Erahouli again.
04:54Who got his shot away.
04:56And Benbock with a great save.
04:58And now the hosts are driving forwards.
05:03Benzaza down again.
05:05Number six for him.
05:07Going down.
05:11Tending.
05:12Really flying into a challenge there.
05:15Oh, well played.
05:16Here's the chance.
05:17Goalkeeper saves again.
05:22Quickly.
05:24The host with seven shots.
05:25The business is before.
05:26Doesn't tell the whole story though.
05:28Drowy into the box.
05:29Oh, chance.
05:31Goalkeeper looked like he had it under control.
05:34Cowdy.
05:38Ball in from Drowy this time is good.
05:41The connection's good as well.
05:43Could have easily gone in.
05:47Goalkeeper had it under control.
05:54And Zaza sees the run from Gacha who has the speed.
05:57Here's Gacha.
05:57Goes for goal.
05:58Another good save.
05:59Another good save.
05:59But the rebound comes out.
06:01And Cowdy just couldn't get to it in time.
06:06Is it in time?
06:06Is it in time?
06:12Played forwards to nowhere.
06:14And Benbott.
06:16in that time
06:19another big chance for the hosts
06:22Gacha with a good run
06:24has the legs
06:26good strike
06:30Caudi
06:31just doesn't get there in time
06:36and the referee calls the end
06:37of the first half there
06:39I think the hosts would have wanted a bit longer
06:43they won't be getting it
06:44and it remains 0-0 at the break
06:46between USM Algier and Olympic Safi
06:49in the first leg of this
06:51CAF Confederation Cup semi-final
06:59and we're off
07:01final 45 minutes of today's game
07:06which side will go into that
07:09all-important second leg
07:11with the advantage
07:14and although I have mentioned Ben Zaza's
07:17proclivity for
07:18falling tight space
07:21tries to play it through
07:24Drowie's done well
07:25and here is Mahruz
07:28who plays it in
07:29is there a chance
07:30there's the goal
07:311-0
07:32it's Drowie
07:34super ball in
07:37super header
07:38and the red wall erupts
07:43that's the moment of class
07:45of brilliance
07:46that they've been waiting for
07:47the ball in
07:49Mahruz finding a super delivery
07:52and Drowie who's been all over the pitch so far today
07:56pops up
07:57with a super header
08:00and a huge goal for the hosts
08:09big moment
08:26and here's the goal
08:27it was Drowie who kept it alive at the start
08:31Mahruz takes his time
08:34swings it in
08:35and Drowie in between the two centre-backs
08:39rises and finishes superbly
08:42that is a striker's header
08:48and that
08:49could be
08:50one of the most important goals of his career
09:01the visitors stunned
09:05can't say that it's been coming
09:08the referee goes over
09:12and give us more of an indication
09:14of what he's looking for
09:17yeah it is
09:17it is
09:18it's whether or not the ball hits the referee
09:22and the laws of the game
09:23do usually suggest
09:25that if the ball hits the referee
09:27it's a drop
09:28ball between the two sides
09:29and the ball is given back
09:31to the team that had possession
09:32before the incident
09:35well after a moment
09:36where we're all out of our seats
09:39screaming and shouting
09:42no goal
09:43no goal
09:45incredibly disappointing
09:47for the home side
09:48but looking at the replay
09:50it does touch the referee
09:52as a result
09:53it will be a drop
09:56drop ball
10:07it's all getting a bit feisty here
10:09Benzaza
10:10not endearing himself to the referee too much
10:12putting his hands all over the referee
10:16one of the best defensive players
10:17in the tournament this year
10:19Merilli clips it in
10:20freehead a chance
10:21goal
10:24well it was a horrible coming together
10:26we need to see what's happened there
10:27but it is 1-0
10:33as things stand
10:38confusion as to what's going on here
10:43it's a really nasty knock
10:44you never like to see this
10:52and here's the replay
10:54I mean he was offside
10:55so the goal won't stand
10:58but my lord
10:59that is a real coming together
11:04so it will remain nil-nil
11:05but now we just really hope
11:06that the players are okay
11:08it's a nasty nasty knock that
11:10and football is a contact sport
11:13these things do happen
11:14but you don't like to see them
11:26the goalkeeper I think injures himself more
11:28in the landing
11:32oh that is terrible
11:33what is the goalkeeper doing
11:35he's so lucky
11:38he's offside
11:45yellow card
11:46given to Merilli
11:48which is really really bad news
11:50because that means he won't card
11:52I think it should be a red card
11:54but since
11:55there was an offside already given
12:00what goes on here
12:06it is Dehiri
12:07he takes the knock
12:11it's a shocking punch
12:13from the goalkeeper
12:14he's covered only by the fact
12:22check completed
12:23it will be a red card
12:24and probably rightfully so
12:26there's a really really really poor punch
12:29from the goalkeeper
12:31it's foul play
12:39and the visitors
12:42will spend the rest of this game
12:45with ten men
12:46Merilli however
12:52not sure the goalkeeper remembers
12:53what day it is
12:58and they're really getting unnecessarily involved now
13:01he's already on a yellow card
13:16coming off will be
13:17Eruhuli
13:18who's been by far
13:19their brightest spark
13:20going forwards
13:21suggests they'll probably
13:23hunker down
13:24to a more defensive position
13:26and try and keep this clean sheet
13:29off goes
13:30red carded
13:33Amiani
13:36but the ball breaks again
13:38Calde
13:44swung in by Radwani
13:45comes to the back post
13:47oh he snatched at it
13:49Kamagate off the bench
13:50nearly making an impact
13:54just unsighted slightly
13:56ball in from Radwani
13:59clipped on
14:00and then
14:00oh I just don't think
14:01he was ready for it
14:05saw it very late
14:11that is the end
14:12the first leg
14:14he's done and dusted
14:16and honours are split
14:24it is nil nil
14:25the game finishes
14:26a really hard-earned draw
14:28for the visitors
14:28who will be
14:29pleased as punch
14:31with that
14:32the home side
14:33will recognise
14:34that they've made things
14:35a lot more difficult
14:36for themselves
14:37...
14:42...
14:43...
14:43...
14:44...
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