Enyimba will be hoping home advantage can help them reach the final

Enyimba showed their Champions League prowess by drawing 1-1 against USMA in the Algerian capital Algiers despite playing the last twenty minutes with only ten men.

Having been outplayed in the first half, Enyimba gradually took control of the semi-final first leg until Ajibade Omolade was sent off for a savage foul on USMA's Hocine Achoui in the 70th minute.

This brought the Algerian champions back into the tie and although USMA controlled the closing stages, they were unable to create any clear-cut chances - to the extent that home fans started walking out of the July 5 Stadium with some five minutes left to play.

The closest USMA came to profiting from their numerical advantage was when Hocine Achiou teed up Fadel Settara in the second minute of injury time but the substitute failed to control the ball when brilliantly-placed.

However, a late Algerian winner would have been harsh on the Nigerians even if USMA had started the match more brightly.

After only six minutes, the lively Abed Benchergui rattled the Nigerian defence when he struck the Enyimba post with a crisp shot from ten yards out.

USMA continued to dominate and had another chance to open the scoring seven minutes later but Moncef Ouichaoui headed wastefully wide when just yards from goal.

Although Enyimba were coming into the game more, USMA still looked the more dangerous and they won a penalty after 36 minutes when Benchergui was fouled in the box by Enyimba goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

Moncef Ouichaoui converted the spot-kick only to see Benin referee Codjia Coffi order a retake of the penalty after several USMA players had encroached in the area before the ball was struck.

Yet Ouichaoui showed considerable calm when he retook the kick, picked the same spot and beat Enyeama to his left once again.

Nigerian comeback

USMA were worthy of their half-time lead, but the second period proved a totally different affair as Enyimba came out looking far more committed.

The Nigerians started to create a number of chances - aided by the Algerians' deep defending - and their efforts paid off in the 62nd minute when Michael Orchei levelled the scores.

Having been set up neatly by a fine piece of play from midfielder Musa Abubakar, Orchei controlled the ball on the edge of the area before lifting it over USMA's onrushing keeper Mezair Hichem.

Buoyed by the goal, Enyimba took control of the match until Omolade's sending-off whereupon USMA coach threw on two forwards as he looked for the winner - but to no avail.

With Enyimba having scored ten goals in their three Group A home matches, the Nigerians will be confident of reaching the final - and this was visible from several Enyimba players who started celebrating on the pitch before Coffi had blown his final whistle.