Egypt's Zamalek reached the African Champions League round of 16 after holding AS Vita Club to a goalless draw in Kinshasa on Saturday.

The Cairo club, who won the last of their five Champions League titles in 2002, went through with a 1-0 aggregate victory after claiming a narrow win at home two weeks ago.

They survived a couple of scares in the first half but went close to snatching a win after the break, with their swift counter attacks causing constant menace to one-time African champions Vita Club.

In a raucous atmosphere at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, Zamalek had the better of the early exchanges as they sought to kill off the hopes of Vita Club with a vital away goal.

Despite their attacking intent, Zamalek hardly troubled the hosts' backline. Lone striker Abdoulaye cisse was caught offside on several occasions and veteran midfielder Ahmed Hassan had a powerful long-range shot tipped over by the keeper.

Vita Club then gained the upper hand with some swift moves upfront and were unlucky not to go ahead on a couple of occasions.

They had a low shot denied by the post midway through the first half and Zamalek needed a superb clearance by defender Mahmoud Fathallah off the line to clear a goal-bound shot after a cross eluded keeper Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed.

Vita Club laid siege to Zamalek's area in the second half but could not create genuine goal-scoring opportunities.

It was the visitors who spurned some easy chances, including a 79th-minute counter attack that saw Cisse fire wide with the goal at his mercy.

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