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Thursday, September 21, 2023

Coupe du Trône: Wydad shutout rivals Raja, RS Berkane edge third tier side

The 2021-22 Coupe du Trône finished up the quarterfinal stage on Thursday and featured a Casablanca Derby between Wydad and Raja. Wydad emerged with a 2-0 victory to move into the semifinals where The Reds will face FUS Rabat following goals from left back Yahia Attiyat Allah and 2021-22 CAF Champions League final hero Zouheir El Moutaraji. In Thursday’s other match, 2021-22 CAF Confederation Cup champions RS Berkane defeated third tier side AS Mansouria 1-0 and will take on Youssoufia Berrechid in the final four after their relegation from the top division Botola Pro.

Attiyat Allah took advantage of a disastrous sequence from Raja backup goalkeeper Gaya Merbah, whose poor touch led to a scramble where the Algerian shot stopper desperately cleared the ball but could not get back into position as the Wydad left back lofted a shot into the empty net. Wydad put the match away shortly after the hour mark when El Moutaraji blasted a curling free kick into the top corner to leave Merbah with no chance at a save.

RS Berkane have not been overly impressive in domestic play this season but did just enough to progress with their victory over amateur side AS Mansouria, who took down two Botola Pro sides to reach the quarterfinals. Mansouria finished in fifth place in the Amateur National Championship this past season and kept the match close but one goal was all RSB needed. In the 18th minute a through ball picked out the forward run of left back Hamza El Moussaoui who was able to sneak his cross past the goalkeeper to Youssef El Fahli at the far post for a finish into the empty net.

Video of the goals from both of Thursday’s games are below.

Wydad AC 2-0 Raja CA

9′- Yahia Attiyat Allah takes advantage of goalkeeping error to put Wydad in the lead

62′- El Moutaraji strikes a brilliant free kick to double Wydad’s lead

AS Mansouria 0-1 RS Berkane