Berkane snatch dramatic late draw against Al Hilal in TotalEnergies CAF Champions League quarter-final
Morocco’s RS Berkane scored deep into stoppage time to rescue a 1–1 draw against Sudanese side Al Hilal Omdurman in the first leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League quarter-final on Saturday night.
The encounter at the Municipal Stadium in Berkane delivered a tense and fiercely contested battle between the two clubs, with the Moroccan side forced to come from behind after Al Hilal struck early in the match.
The result leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the return leg next week, where both teams will battle for a place in the semi-finals of Africa’s premier club competition.
Al Hilal made the brighter start and stunned the home crowd by taking the lead in the 13th minute. Sudan international Abdelraziq Omer finished off a well-worked attacking move after a low delivery from Adama Coulibaly created the opening inside the Berkane penalty area.
The goal forced the Moroccan side to respond quickly, and Berkane began to increase the tempo as they attempted to break down the visitors’ disciplined defensive structure.
Despite their growing pressure, the hosts struggled to convert possession into clear opportunities during the first half. One of their best chances came when the crossbar denied Berkane a potential equaliser after a dangerous effort from inside the box.
Tactical battle after the break
The second half continued in similar fashion, with Berkane pushing forward in search of an equaliser while Al Hilal remained compact and dangerous on the counterattack.
Berkane forward Youssef Mehri tested the visitors’ goalkeeper early in the second period, but the Sudanese side managed to preserve their advantage as the match entered its closing stages.
With time running out, Berkane increased their attacking pressure and forced Al Hilal deeper into their own half.
The match then took a dramatic turn in stoppage time when Berkane appealed for a penalty following a challenge on substitute Hamza Moussaoui inside the penalty area.
After reviewing the incident using the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the referee awarded the penalty and also issued a red card to Al Hilal defender Steve Ebola for the foul.
The decision sparked brief tensions between the players from both sides as the high-stakes moment unfolded in front of a tense home crowd.
Late drama keeps tie alive
Up stepped Munir Chouiar, who calmly converted the penalty deep into stoppage time to level the score and rescue Berkane from a potentially damaging home defeat.
His goal, scored in the 90+9th minute, sparked celebrations among the home supporters and ensured the Moroccan club would travel into the return leg with their hopes of qualification intact.
For Al Hilal, the late concession will be a frustrating outcome after they had defended resolutely for most of the match and looked on course to secure an important away victory.
However, the draw ensures that the second leg will be decisive when the two sides meet again next week, with Al Hilal expected to host the match at a neutral venue.
The winner of the quarter-final will advance to the semi-finals, where they will face the victorious side from the tie between Pyramids FC and Morocco’s AS FAR.
With both teams still firmly in contention, the stage is now set for a dramatic conclusion to what has already proven to be a fiercely competitive Champions League quarter-final.