Ajax Cape Town gained a valuable point in their CAF Champions League game against the number-one team in Africa, Egypt’s Al Ahly, when they held them to a goalless draw at the Athlone Stadium on Sunday.
The experience of the visitors showed, but the home side kept their heads. Had they shown more composure, a shock victory could well have been on the cards — although the visitors’ strikers, especially Ibrahim Emad, also left his scoring boots in Cairo with several missed opportunities.
The home side attacked from the start and in the sixth minute, Thembinkosi Fanteni missed from a good position as he kicked across the goal mouth. Ajax kept up the pressure but found a solid Al Ahly defence.
The visitors gradually got to grips with the sodden turf and came close in the 17th minute when Abou Tarikamohamed’s shot was tipped around the corner by a diving Moeneeb Josephs.
Three minutes later, Amodo Flavio had an open goal but shot wide.
The Egyptians were now showing their cleverness and in the 27th minute Sebastiao Amaral headed straight at Josephs from 5m.
Nathan Paulse came on for the injured Matthieu Kanku and in the 44th minute he crossed to Fanteni who should have buried the ball, but again kicked past the far upright.
In the second half, the visitors were playing with a strong wind and attacked with more ferocity, and in the 55th minute Emad broke through and cut in, but his shot was brilliantly saved by Josephs.
At the other end, Meshack Motlhajwa chased after a long ball but could not control the loose ball, and goalkeeper Hadari Essam did well to smother the move. — Sapa