JS Saoura and Al Ahly drew 1-1 in the 2018/19 CAF Champions League Group D match at the Stade du 20 Aout 1955 in Algeria on Friday.

As a result, Algeria’s Saoura moved up to the third spot on the Group D table, while Egyptian side Al Ahly also climbed up to the top of the standings.

The Red Devils pushed for an early goal with Ramadan Sobhi leading the team’s attack in the absence injured striker Walid Azaro.

However, the Eagles were able to contain Al Ahly with Fateh Talah marshalling the hosts’ defence.

Saoura grew in confidence as the match progressed and they had the best chance of the first-half just before the half-hour mark.

The chance fellow for Yahia Cherif, whose header was well saved by Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shennawy. 

The hosts finished the first-half strongly, but they could not beat El Shennawy, who was part of the Egypt squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.

The score was 0-0 at the interval between Saoura and Al Ahly.

Saoura began the second-half brightly and they managed to break the deadlock a minute before the hour-mark.

Cherif scored with a brilliant header into the near post – beating Shennawy hands down to make it 1-0 to Saoura much to the delight of the home crowd.

Al Ahly coach Martin Lasarte then introduced Nasser Maher, who was on the scoresheet as the Red Devils beat DRC giants AS Vita Club 2-0 in the opening Group D game.

Record eight-time Champions League winners Al Ahly pressed the Eagles in the closing stages of the game and they managed to grab a late equalizing goal.

Karim Nedved scored a late equalizer with five minutes left on the clock to ensure that the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Saoura (0) 1 (Cherif 59′)
Al Ahly (0) 1 (Nedved 85′)

Saoura: Nateche, Khoualed, Bekakchi, Talah (Tiboutine 49′), Konate, Hammar (Ulimwengu 80′), Hammia, Bouchiba, Merbah, Farhi (Zaidi 88′), Yahia Cherif.

Al Ahly: El Shennawy, Ashraf, Maâloul, Ibrahim, Hany, Soliman (Hamoudi 88′), Al Sulaya, Mohareb (Maher 49′), Sobhi, Nedved, El Shahat (Ajayi 73′).