Raja Casablanca kept their slim hopes alive of qualifying to the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League after The Green Eagles played to a 1-1 draw against fellow Moroccan club AS FAR in Meknes. Naoufel Zerhouni's second half penalty kick drew Raja level after a first half own goal but the famous club could not find a second goal and will now need help on the final day to advance. With the result, AS FAR have qualified for the knockout stages and next week will battle Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa for the status of group winners.
As expected the duel was intense between Moroccan clubs who know each other well. High tension and vocal supporters created an atmosphere where the priority for both teams appeared to be in the defensive zones. However, an error from Raja allowed AS FAR to take the lead when a corner kick service from AS FAR attacker Amine Zouhzouh was deflected into his own goal by Raja defender Youssef Belammari.
The teams played more offensively in the second half with Raja desperate for a result. The Casablanca club struggled to break down the AS FAR defense but received a fortunate break in the final quarter hour when a penalty kick was awarded that appeared to be a bit generous to Raja. Zerhouni sent AS FAR goalkeeper Ayoub El Khayati the wrong way to level the match.
Raja showed the necessary urgency in the final minutes to get a goal and control their own destiny on the final day but the moment did not arrive. Raja now need to defeat AS Maniema Union at home in their last match and have AS FAR defeat Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa. Raja also need to make up a three-goal difference in goal difference to win the head-to-head tiebreaker with Sundowns.
Highlights
40': Disaster strikes as Raja concedes an own goal
77': Naoufel Zerhouni converts a penalty kick for Raja to level the match
Group B Table
GP | Points | |
AS FAR | 5 | 9 |
Mamelodi Sundowns | 5 | 8 |
Raja CA | 5 | 5 |
AS Maniema Union | 5 | 3 |
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