Record winners Ahly moved close to a place in the African Champions League group stage after playing out a 1-1 draw away to Tanzania's Young Africans in the round of 16 first-leg on Saturday. The Egyptian giants took an early lead, thanks to a header from lone striker Amr Gamal, but an own goal by central defender Ahmed Hegazy shortly after brought Young Africans level. Ahly will be overwhelming favourites to advance to the group stage when they host Young Africans in the second leg on 19 April, which is likely to take place at Alexandria's Borg El-Arab Stadium The Red Devils are bidding to win a record-extending ninth Champions League title and their first since 2013. Despite playing at home before enthusiastic crowd at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Young Africans were largely cautious in the first half, bearing in mind that Ahly's in-form forwards have what it takes to exploit any gaps in their defensive barriers. Ahly displayed some neat passing game in the final third in the early stages and opened the scoring after 11 minutes following a neatly-worked free-kick, from which playmaker Abdallah El-Said chipped the ball into the area and Moemen Zakareya played it over the advancing keeper and into the path of Gamal, who headed home past four defenders who desperately tried to clear the danger. The visiting fans, who are set to attend the return leg after Egyptian authorities allowed to lift a crowd ban in African competitions, lit fireworks to celebrate the opener but Young Africans remained cool-headed, restoring parity eight minutes later. An innocuous cross was floated in from the left and Hegazy inadvertently put it into his own net. Young Africans had some tame efforts but Ahly were the more dangerous side, thanks in part to Zakareya's efforts upfront which made up for an unusual lethargic display from teenager Ramadan Sobhi, who is one of the team's best performers this season. Zakareya went close with an angled half-volley on 28 minutes and almost restored Ahly's advantage one minute after the restart when he collected a chipped pass from El-Said, superbly nutmegged his challenger and rattled the bar with a powerful volley from the edge of the area. Both sides eased off afterwards and Young Africans were forced to introduce stand-in goalkeeper Aly Mustafa after Deogratius Munishi was injured. Ahly held on for a draw that puts them in the driving seat ahead of the second leg. (For more sportsnews andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/199160.aspx
