Ibrahim Salifu and Isaac Agyenim Boateng were on target as Hearts of Oak defeated JS Saoura a 2-0 in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Both goals came in either half following a dominant performance by the Phobians but they failed to score more.
The Ghana Premier League champions started the game better of two sides at the Accra Sports Stadium and nearly scored within 2 minutes.
Daniel Afriyie Barnieh's cut back to Salifu Ibrahim was parried by the goalkeeper Zakati Saidi and Kofi Kordzi failed to score from the rebound.
The Phobians pressure finally paid off as they broke the deadlock on the 16th-minute courtesy Salifu Ibrahim.
The 2020/21 Ghana Premier League best player this time around made good use of Afriyie Barnieh's cut back as he headed the ball into the net.
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The first half ended 1-0 in favour of Samuel Boadu's side who wasn't pleased with the solitary goal.
After the recess, Hearts of Oak continued from where they left off but had to wait until the 74th minute to score their second goal.
A well-worked team move was finished off by substitute Isaac Agyenim Boateng. The Algerians had to play the rest of the game with 10-men after their goalkeeper was red-carded in the 76th minute.
Despite, the numerical advantage Hearts of Oak could not add to their tally as the game ended 2-0.
Hearts of Oak would be hoping to do better when they travel to North Africa to honour the reverse fixture next week.
The last time the Phobians travelled to North Africa they were hammered 6-1 by Wydad Atletic Club at the Stade Mohammed V in Morocco.