CAIRO: Keeping Ahly at bay in the second leg of the Champions League round of 32 will be the primary concern of Zimbabwe s Gunners, who caused a huge upset after beating the Red Devils 1-0 on Saturday.
Egyptian champions Ahly were overwhelming favorites to settle the tie in their favor but the determined hosts took them by surprise.
Gunners played a fluent and pacey game to stun Ahly, thanks to a first-half goal from striker Norman Maroto.
We really deserved to win this one, Gunners coach Darlington Dodo was quoted as saying by local media after the game.
The guys followed the instructions and we were in control for much of the game.
But Ahly are very tactical, they have dangerous players like Mohamed Barakat and (Mohamed) Abou-Trika.
Attacking midfielders Barakat and Abou-Trika started on the bench but their second-half introduction injected zeal and helped Ahly pile on pressure although they could not find the equalizer.
They are likely to be included in Ahly s starting line-up for the second leg in two weeks time but Gunners intend to set up a defensive strategy to contain them.
We need to tighten up in the second leg, Dodo, who is plotting a downfall for six-time African champions Ahly, added.
We will work on how we will try to contain them in their own backyard but I am happy with the lads performance.
