Title-holders Al Ahly of Egypt stretched an unbeaten CAF Champions League run to 26 matches on Saturday by drawing 0-0 with Orlando Pirates of South Africa in sweltering Soweto.
Since crashing 5-2 to Mamelodi Sundowns on their last visit to South Africa 33 months ago, the Cairo Red Devils have won 18 games and drawn eight while winning the competition twice.
Ahly have been African champions a record 12 times, including back-to-back titles four times, but three consecutive Champions League final triumphs has eluded them.
A third straight title under Swiss coach Marcel Koller is the target this season, and they will be difficult to stop judged by an impressive showing in 34 Celsius (93 Fahrenheit) Soweto heat.
Ahly erected a defensive barrier that was rarely pierced and almost snatched victory late on when goalkeeper Sipho Chaine did well to push away a stringing Hussein el Shahat shot.
Despite dropping two points in the top-of-the-table Group C matchday 2 clash before a sell-out 40,000 crowd, Pirates’ Spanish coach Jose Riveiro hailed his Buccaneers.
“It was an excellent performance against vastly experienced opponents. Had the first half lasted a little longer I believe we would have scored,” he told reporters.
Koller said “a draw was a fair result but I am a little disappointed that Ahly failed to win in South Africa for the first time”, referring to nine draws and seven losses from CAF visits.
Ahly lead Pirates on goal difference with each club having four points. Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria lie third with three points after edging Stade Abidjan 1-0 in the Ivory Coast.
– Sundowns draw in Morocco –
The other South African contenders, Mamelodi Sundowns, also drew. The Pretoria outfit led Group B leaders FAR Rabat of Morocco in coastal city El Jadida before settling for a 1-1 draw.
A brilliant looping shot from the edge of the area by Iqraam Rayners gave former champions Sundowns a 66th-minute lead that Mohamed Hrimat cancelled from close range soon after.
Sundowns, who finished with 10 men after the dismissal of twice-cautioned Aubrey Modiba, were the likelier side to score in the closing stages.
Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who surprisingly held Sundowns in South Africa 11 days ago, came from behind to draw 1-1 with Moroccan visitors Raja Casablanca.
FAR have four points, Sundowns and Maniema two each and three-time Champions League title-holders Raja one ahead of matchday 3 next weekend.
Tanzanian outfit Young Africans suffered a second straight Group A defeat when falling 2-0 away to pacesetters Mouloudia Alger.
Captain Ayoub Abdellaoui nodded a free-kick past Malian goalkeeper Djibril Diarra on 64 minutes and Sofiane Bayazid doubled the lead from an added-time lob.
Mouloudia, who in 1976 became the first African champions from Algeria, have four points, Al Hilal of Sudan three, TP Mazembe of DR Congo one and Young Africans none.
Hilal host Mazembe on Sunday and a score draw will suffice to replace Mouloudia as leaders. The match is being staged in Mauritanian capital Nouakchott due to the Sudanese civil war.
© Agence France-Presse