Ahli are boosted by the return of some fans to the stands at the Army Stadium in Alexandria, while the Reds regain the services of their legendary star Mohamed Abou-Treika.

Esperance, on the other hand, name a defensive-minded line-up as they miss star man Youssef Msakni.

Line-ups:

AHLI: Ekrami – Fathi, Gomaa, Naguib, Abdul-Fadil – Ashour, Ghaly, Al-Saied, Soliman, Abou-Treika – Geddo

ESPERANCE: Ben Cherifia – Chemmam, Ben Mansour, Hichri, Derbali – Ragued, Mouelhi, Aouadhi, Bouazzi, Afful – N’Djeng

First half

1' The first half kicks off..fans are anticipating an entertaining game

2' Ahli possessing ball in midfield as Abou-Treika's attempted through is blocked by a defender

3' Abdullah Al-Saied wins a free kick from way out..let's see what he's going to do with it

3' He sends the free kick narrowly wide over the bar

4' The home side are pouring forward from early on as they are boosted by their vociferous fans

5' Superb control by Abou-Treika in midfield as he sends Geddo who fires a low shot wide

6' Ahli are dominating the early stages of the game as Al-Saeid squanders a promising shot into the keeper's hands

8' Good start from the Reds, they still need to pose genuine threat though

10' Esperance's Aouadhi receives the first booking of the game following a fierce tackle

11' Full-back Derbali handed a yellow card as he is certain now to miss the second leg

12' Naguib heads a corner kick wide...seemed dangerous though

13' Offside against N’Djeng as the visitors attempt to push forward

14' WHAT A CHANCE!!! Al-Saeid fires a left-footed strike from long range which is blocked by the keeper..the first real threat from the Reds

16' Ahli in full control now..the opener seems close

17' Geddo in an offside position

18' Foul for the hosts from way out..let's see how they will deal with that

18' An awful cross by Sherif Abdul-Fadil..goal kick for the Tunisians

19' Gomaa with a timely tackle to deny N'Djeng on the left..great from the veteran

20' Fathi struggles to control the ball as he is pressured from the opponents..good control though

21' Foul against Fathi in the visitors' box

22' Free kick for Esperance on the left as Gomaa brings down N'Djeng

23' Soliman fouled on the other end..the Reds maintain possession

26' N'Djeng on the ground..it seems he is suffering an injury

29' Superb team move by the home side blocked by a defender

32' Foul for Ahli near the half way line

33' WHAT A MISS!!!! and from who! from Abou-Treika!!

Fathi cuts back to Abou-Treika who blasts high with the goal at his mercy!! Unbelievable from the Egypt veteran

34' Ahli fans must be lamenting such an easy chance that for sure could have earned them the lead

35' The visitors are solid at the back while Ahli sustain their pressure..keep wondering if the the Tunisians will be able to keep a clean sheet

37' Geddo goes one on one with the keeper as the former falls while the keeper rushes out towards the ball..penalty? the referee says no!

38' TV replays show that the referee's decision was correct..

40' a good through by Ghaly but Geddo fails to make contact with him

42' foul for the Reds near the half way line

43' Another offside against N'Djeng..could be his third tonight

44' foul for Soliman as he seems a bit tense

45' Chemmam cautioned after kicking the ball into Soliman whom he fouled a second earlier

45+1' Half time beckons as the visitors are close to ending the first half as they wish with no goals conceded away from home

45+2' Fathi pleads for a spot kick following an aerial challenge..

45+3' the referee blows the whistle signaling the end of the first half as Ahli need to break the visitors steadfast defense ahead of the return leg in Tunis

45+3' Lets's see how things will change after the interval

Second half

46' The second half..the Reds are in control outright

47' N'Djeng blasts wide as he tries his luck from a tight angle after failing to find support inside the box

48' Offside against Esperance..the home fans breathed a sigh of relief as they felt some danger from the opponents

49' GOAAAAAAAAAAALLLL!!!!! Esperance take the lead against the run of play!!

An Ekrami blunder costs the Reds a goal as the keeper fails to deal with a corner kick, only for Hichri to head home at the near post...super jump from the Tunisian!

50' Fathi fails to latch on a through ball down the right..the fans' boisterous chants could be well heard now

51' Hamdi, who came on for Abdul-Fadil, hits a low shot wide after exchanging passes with Abou-Treika

52' Ahli now play with two men upfront after being one goal down as Soliman assumes the left back role

53' Al-Saied strikes a rocketing shot from long range as keeper Ben Cherifia denies him in superb fashion

55' Affum yellow carded after fouling Soliman..he misses the second leg

56' The Reds seem despirited after conceding the goal..they need to press more

57' Another CHANCE for Ahli as the vigilant Ben Cherifia thwarts Geddo's long-range thundrous strike

58' Barakat introduced instead of Ghaly

59' Ahli seem to lose their tight grip on midfield, is it because they are demoralized following the goal or because they lost a man in midfield after Soliman moved back to assume the left back role?

60' Al-Saied strikes a long-range shot..easily gathered by the in-form Ben Cherifia

61' Hichri fells Hamdi on the left..free kick

62' Poorly implemented..sends it away from the area!

63' Foul for Esperance in their half

65' The visitors second corner in the half

66' What a CHANCE!! N'Djeng could have made it two when his header missed the target by inches

68' Fathi attemtps to skip past a defender on the right..the latter dispossesses him brilliantly

69' Free kick for the home side...Al-Saied takes it

70' Geddo poorly meets the crossed free kick to deny his side what could have been a promising chance

71' Barakat fails to connect with a cross at the far post..goal kick

72' Afful inexplicably falls down..is it a cramp or just burning time?

73' Abou-Treika wastes ANOTHER CHANCE from point-blank range!!

Hamdi whips in an inviting cross for the Egypt international who tapped it but Ben Cherifia magnificently denied him...the Esperance keeper is the man of the match!

75' Free kick for the Reds on the left side of the area..from good position

76' Poorly executed..much to the fans' frustration

77' Fathi should control his temper, the full back should avoid a second caution

78' Throw-in for the Reds...ends up with no threat on the visitors' goal

79' Soliman brilliantly dribbles past a defender down the left

80' Offside against the Reds..the fans cheers could be clearly heard

81' Meteb is now being introduced..now replacing Geddo

82' Fathi's cross intercepted

83' Soliman strikes from outside the area..too weak and off target!

85' Barakat earns a foul from a great position at the edge of the area..

86' Al-Saied and Soliman are on the ball now

86' Al-Saied takes it as it easily reaches the keeper's hands

88' The Tunisians are now camping in their own half as they try to defend their lead

88' GOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!! Ahli restore parity via the substitute Hamdi

Fathi sent a deft through pass latched on by Hamdi who broke clear to slot home past the advancing Ben Cherifia

89' Ahli are now in charge in search for the winner.... the game is set alight!!!!

90+1' Al-Saied's strike deflected off a defender for a corner kick

90+2' Ahli continue to push forward....

90+3' Abou-Treika strikes wide with the goal gaping..could have ended the game with his side leading ahead of the return leg!

90+4' The referee ends the game following a four-minute-stoppage time. The Reds now need to win the return leg which takes place a fortnight from now.