Al Hilal suffer defeat against Berkane in Morocco

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Sunday May 06, 2018. 20:23

Al Hilal suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to RS Berkane in their first 2018 CAF Confederation Cup Group B match at the Stade Municipal de Berkane on Sunday.

As a result, the Moroccan club climbed up to the top of Group B standings, while Sudanese giants Al Hilal are placed fourth on the table.

The hosts got off to a perfect start as they broke the deadlock just two minutes into the encounter.

It was Togo international Fo-Doh Kodjo Laba, who grabbed an early goal to make it 1-0 to Berkane with Ayoub El Kaabi grabbing an assist.

The visitors then pressed Berkane and they nearly levelled matters through Mohamed Ahmed Bashir.

Bashir was sent through on goal, but he was brilliantly denied by Berkane goalkeeper Abdelali M'Hamdi.

It was an open game as Berkane allowed Al Hilal to create goal-scoring opportunities which they could not convert.

Berkane were able to hold on to their slender lead and they were leading 1-0 at the interval.

The hosts dominated the opening stages of the second-half and they nearly doubled their lead through Bakr El Helali.

The midfielder found himself in a good position, but he placed his effort wide of the target in the 58th minute.

The visitors also looked dangerous on the counter attack and in the 61st minute Bashir was denied by M'Hamdi from a one-on-one situation.

The closing stages of the game were exciting as both teams launched attacked in search of a late goal.

Houssam Amaanan was sent through on goal by Ayoub El Kaabi, but the former hit the post with ten minutes left.

The two teams were unable to score in the remaining minutes and ultimately, Berkane ran out 1-0 winners over Al Hilal on the day.

Berkane (1) 1 (Laba 2')
Al Hilal (0) 0

Berkane: M'Hamdi, Sipović, Nemssaoui, Regragui, Yechou, El Helali, El Mobaraky (Amaanan 76'), Akhmiss (Laachir 66', El Kessi 90'+2), Naji, Laba, El Kaabi.

Al Hilal: Awad, El Hag Hassan, A.Abdalla, Ouattara, Merghani (Adam 66'), Ibrahim, Bashir, Boya, Eldin Ali, N.Abdalla, Maranhão (Azeez 76').