A header from Rami Rabia early in the second half gave Egypt's Ahly an African Champions League lifeline following a precious 1-0 victory over Wydad Casablanca in Rabat on Wednesday. The central defender powered home a header on 46 minutes as Ahly secured their first victory following a poor start to their Group A campaign, which saw them lose to Zambia's ZESCO United and Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas. They were also held to a dull 0-0 home draw by Wydad but looked a more compact and resolute side at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium to keep alive their bid for a record-extending ninth Champions League title. The win will also ease pressure on Dutch coach Martin Jol, who has come in for criticism lately despite Ahly's triumphant Egyptian Premier League campaign, which was followed by some disappointing results. Ahly are third in their group on four points, on level with ASEC and three short of joint leaders Wydad and ZESCO with two matches remaining. The Red Devils face ASEC away from home and host ZESCO in their final matches. Three injuries Ahly are already struggling to cope with some notable absences, especially following the move of Ramadan Sobhi to Stoke City and Malick Evouna to China's Tianjin Teda, and their cause was not helped when they were forced to make three unscripted substitutions due to injuries. Central midfielder Amr El-Sulaya was substituted in the first half and his replacement, Bassem Ali, was also taken off after the break. Central defender Ahmed Hegazy was also replaced on 66 minutes after sustaining a hamstring injury. The first half was cagey as neither side looked very threatening but Wydad could have snatched an early lead when Walid El Karti was found unmarked by a defence-splitting pass after four minutes but he shot straight at the keeper with the goal at his mercy. Ahly, who looked more solid than the home clash, were almost gifted a fortuitous goal three minutes before the break when an attempted defensive clearance bounced off winger Moemen Zakareya and hit the post. They still took the lead just after the restart when Walid Soliman floated a free kick from the right and Rabia leapt high to glance it into the top corner of the net. Winger Soliman, who was deployed on the right, was Ahly's liveliest performer and he continued to cause menace down the flank, forcing a great save from Zouheir Laaroubi with a powerful volley on 58 minutes. Ahly then sat back to defend their slender advantage as Wydad mounted a late onslaught, with substitute Mohamed Ounajem coming close with a low curling shot that went just wide after he cut inside Hossam Ashour on the edge of the area. However, the visitors' dogged defending eventually allowed them to claim a valuable victory, stunning the enthusiastic home crowd. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
