Smouha play out a 1-1 draw with Sudan's Hilal ElObeid (Photo: Ahram)
Smouha have been held to a 1-1 home draw by Sudan’s Hilal ElObeid in the CAF Confederation Cup Group C at Alexandria’s Borg El-Arab Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts took the lead through ex-Zamalek striker Ahmed Hassan Mekki from the penalty spot in the first half, before an own goal from center-back Mahmoud Ezzat brought the visitors level after the break.
The Alexandrians, who entered their third group game on top on goal difference, are still in charge with four points, one ahead of Zambia’s ZESCO United and Angola’s Recreativo who face off on Sunday.
Ezzat own-goal
The Sudanese side were the first to pose real threat on goal, with keeper Mohamed Abo-Gabal keeping away a Muhannad El-Taher curling effort after just 11 minutes.
Striker Mekki could have easily opened the scoring in the 24th minute when he squandered a one-on-one effort, before seeing a header cleared off the line six minutes later.
Mekki, however, made sure he made no mistake from nine yards after Smouha were awarded a penalty in the 36th minute, giving his side the lead following huge protests from Hilal.
Hilal were brought level in the 67th minute when a cross from Mofadal Hassan deflected off defender Ezzat into his own net, cancelling out the home side’s lead.
Smouha pushed forward in search for the winner, with defender Yasser Ibrahim seeing a header tipped over by the keeper with just 15 minutes remaining.
But Hilal managed to hold on to the draw in the final minutes of the game, as they eventually came up with a vital point away from home.
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