AS FAR were held to an evenly balanced 1–1 draw by defending champions Pyramids FC in the first leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League quarter-final clash on Friday evening after Mahmoud Zalaka cancelled out an early strike from Ahmed Hammoudan in Rabat.
The Moroccan side made the perfect start, taking the lead in just the eighth minute. Zin-Eddine Derrag threaded a pass into Ahmed Hammoudan on the left side of the area, and the winger produced a confident right-footed finish high into the centre of the net to put the hosts ahead.
Pyramids attempted to respond quickly, but their attacks were repeatedly halted by the offside flag in the first half, with Fiston Mayele caught beyond the defence on multiple occasions.
Nasser Maher came closest for the visitors before the break, forcing goalkeeper Ahmed Tagnaouti into a low save from distance in the 28th minute.
Despite enjoying more of the ball as the half progressed, the reigning champions struggled to break down a disciplined AS FAR defence, and the hosts carried their 1–0 advantage into the interval.
After winning successive corners, Mahmoud Zalaka reacted quickest in the 52nd minute, finishing from close range to level the match at 1–1.
The equaliser sparked a lively spell, with both teams pushing forward in search of a second goal.
As the match entered stoppage time, Pyramids nearly snatched a late winner. Hamed Hamdan tested Tagnaouti with a powerful strike from outside the box before Zico forced another save with a left-footed effort from the left side of the area.
The game ended with both sides level, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the return leg in Egypt, where Pyramids will hope home advantage can carry them into the semi-finals while the Moroccans look to build on their early lead from the first encounter.
SOURCE: CAF ONLINE
