JOHANNESBURG, Nov 18 (Reuters) - A thundering free kick from 40 metres by Lounes Bendahmane gave Algeria's JS Kabylie a 1-1 away draw in the first leg of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup final against Ismailia of Egypt on Friday.
Bendahmane's 72nd minute shot flew past the wall and Ismailia goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi to hand the initiative to the Algerian club, who host the return leg in on December 1.
Kabylie are seeking to become only the second club to win all three of Africa's annual club competitions, having previously won the African Champions Cup twice and the African Cup Winners' Cup five years ago.
Kabylie's goal came four minutes after they had defender Farouk Belkaid sent off for punching Ismailia's Ayman Ramadan. The incident caused a temporary halt to the game as the Kabylie bench ran on to the pitch to protest against the red card.
Ismailia went into the match as hot favourites having shown solid goal-scoring form in winning through to the final. But the threat of their Nigerian striker John Okata was nullified by a well-disciplined Algerian defence.
A foul on Okata by JS Kabylie goalkeeper Lyamine Boughrara led to a penalty on the hour for Ismailia, converted by Mohamed Barakat.
Ismailia, long in the shadow of Egypt's more glamourous clubs from the capital Cairo, are seeking to win their first continental title since 1969.
- NEWS