Published on : 10/07/2021 – 22:57Modified : 11/07/2021 – 11:54
Raja Casablanca won the 18th edition of the Confederation Cup on Saturday by winning 2 goals to 1 against JS Kabylie. Favorite of this poster, the champions of Morocco quickly opened the scoring but then had to fight hard to preserve their advantage after the expulsion of Omar Arjoune on the hour mark.
They were favorites and the Green Eagles, even reduced to 10, did not tremble against JS Kabylie during this 18th edition of the African Football Confederation Cup (CAF). In front of 12,000 spectators gathered in Cotonou, Benin, strong Moroccans won against voluntary yellows and greens but too approximate to win.
From the first minutes, Raja Casablanca confiscates the ball. On a bright opening, Soufiane Rahimi eliminates the goalkeeper and just has to slip the ball into the net. The goal is canceled for an offside position before being awarded after long minutes of hesitation.
In the 9th, feverish Canaries border on the correctional. But the head of number 10, Mahmoud Benhalib, passes a few centimeters from the cages of Osama Benbot. The respite will be short-lived. After a nice overflow, the Congolese Ben Malongo takes advantage of the generosity of the defense to control in the area and follow up with a powerful pivot strike. We have been playing for less than fifteen minutes and already 2 goals to zero for the Moroccans.
The match then continues on a false pace. The JSK regains control of the ball but struggles to be really dangerous and ignite the meeting. On the contrary, it is the Raja who creates a new opportunity on a strike a little too removed from Abdelilah Afidi.
The Raja masters his subject and, despite some technical waste, leaves few opportunities to an opponent petrified by the stake. On a discount from Malongo, Soufiane Rahimi is even close to tripling the bet in the 37th but his shot misses the target.
A season saved
Back from the locker room, Denis Lavagne’s men go back to four in defense and seem to have better intentions. After a good combination on the right side, the cross strike from Mohamed Zakaria Boulahia deceives the Moroccan goalkeeper. The Raja is cold picked at the start of the second half. Algerians can once again dream of a first continental trophy since 2002.
Especially since the JSK pushes but lacks efficiency in the last gesture. Then at the hour of play, twist: Omar Arjoune is expelled for dangerous play. The Green Eagles will have to play the last half hour at 10 against 11. The match is completely revived but the defense of Raja holds. Better, the Moroccans manage to worry Osama Benbot in the 73rd minute after a well-conducted counterattack.
Missing completely from their first period, the Algerians fail to take advantage of their numerical superiority. Despite long stifling minutes and an electric end of the meeting, Raja Casablanca holds its victory. Eliminated in the Champions League, left behind in the Moroccan Championship, left in the national cup, the Moroccans thus save a very dull season by winning an eighth continental trophy.
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