Egyptian giants Zamalek edged closer to their first ever ACL final after holding Jordan's Faisaly to a goalless away draw in the first-leg of the competition's semi-final on Tuesday.


The men in white just need a win in the second-leg on the 17th of April if they are to reach the final.

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Zamalek played with a defensive mentality and tried to hit on the break, the strategy that proved successful throughout the match.


They had rare opportunities in the first-half while Faisaly could have grabbed the opener on two occasions.
In the 18th minute, Qusai Alieh latched-on to Abdelhadi Al-Maharmeh's through pass to beat the offside trap and go through on goal but his low shot went just wide of the post.




Al-Maharmeh had another chance seven minutes before the break when he controlled a long ball inside the area before hitting a left-footed shot over the bar.
It was no difference in the second-half as Faisaly continued their attempts to score a crucial goal but were denied by the unusual resilience showed by Zamalek's defense.


Zamalek defender Wael Al-Qabani curled a low free-kick that was blocked by Faisaly keeper Loai Al-Amaireh two minutes past the hour mark.



Faisaly were almost ahead four minutes later when Siraj Al-Tall burst down the left-flank before providing a low cross that Al-Qabani by mistake hit it against his own bar while trying to clear the ball.



Substitute Gamal Hamza produced a wonderful solo effort eight minutes from time after he dribbled past three defenders and drilled a shot that was saved by Al-Amaireh.


Zamalek had to thank keeper Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed for maintaining the goalless stalemate after he superbly blocked a close-range header by Al-Tall just before the final whistle.





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