Ahly's four-match winning streak came to a halt after they wer held to a 1-1 away Egyptian league draw by a resilient Dakhleya side at Petrosport Stadium on Thursday. Forward Amr Marei gave Dakhleya the lead late in the first half before teammate defender Rashad Farouk headed past his own keeper in the second half for Ahly's equalizer. Ahly now slipped to second of the league table on 26 points – just one adrift of leaders Maqassa who played two games more. Dakhleya dominate early on, score late Dakhleya were the side to dominate the opening stages, and it wasn't long till the hosts threatened Ahly's goal after just six minutes. Striker Hossam Hassan was guilty of missing a golden opportunity after superbly moving in behind the Ahly backline before going one on one and frustratingly blasting high from inside the box. Moemen Zakareya replied in the 26th minute with another squandered one-on-one chance, following another brilliant move from the Ahly attacking midfielder who received a great through ball from Saleh Gomaa before missing the target. Lone striker Amr Gamal then saw a header go narrowly wide of the post following a left-wing corner from Abdallah El-Saied – who was largely a peripheral figure throughout the match. But it was three minutes from time when the home side took the lead through forward Marei, who was unmarked as he received a through ball behind left-back Sabri Rahil to slot past understudy keeper Ahmed Adel. Dakhleya defender nets equalizer Dakhleya then looked to defend their slender lead in the second half, with Ahly controlling possession in midfield. The Reds, however, failed to pose danger on the home side's goal despite the introduction of lively winger Ramadan Sobhi who replaced the injured Gomaa. Five minutes after an unmarked Zakareya had struck high over the bar, it was a Dakhleya man who leveled the scoring in the 77th minute when Farouk headed into his own net following a cross from substitute Ahmed Hamdi. Despite conceding a goal, Dakhleya continued with their reactive approach, in an attempt to hit an attacking Ahly on the counter. And Ahly had two chances to win the game late on, with striker Gamal shooting wide of the post before another opportunity saw him volley high while unmarked in the dying minutes as the game ended in a 1-1 draw. (For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/181044.aspx
