CAF Champions League: Raja Casablanca Beat AmaZulu FC 2:0, Usuthu’s Qualification Hopes Remain Very Slim

• AmaZulu have a very slim chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League
• AmaZulu were beaten by two goals to nil by Raja Casablanca, a win that saw the Moroccan side qualify top of their group
• AmaZulu had numerous chances but failed to take any of them as they were beaten by a better Raja Casablanca side

Raja Casablanca have qualified for the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League after beating AmaZulu 2-0.

The Moroccan side scored once in the first half and again in the second half to kill off the game.

Raja Casablanca scored early, taking the lead in the sixth minute of the game. Moshine Moutaouali sent in a long ball from the right-wing which Hamid Ahadad chased. AmaZulu keeper, Veli Mothwa rushed off his line as he saw the threat but Ahadad beat him to the ball.

The Raja Casablanca striker lobbed the keeper beautifully as the ball dipped into the net just shy of the crossbar.

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Raja Casablanca almost went two up in the 24th minute when Mothwa dropped a ball from a corner in front of Marouane Hadhoudi. The defender could not control his shot and sent it well wide. AmaZulu started to create more chances but couldn’t do much with the ball. They were twice caught offside in the first half-hour and their best attempt was saved by Marouane Fakhr. Mohamed Nahiri then rattled the palms of Mothwa in the 34th minute as his bullet freekick was deflected by the AmaZulu keeper.

The deflected shot skimmed the crossbar and flew over. Raja Casablanca went into the break with a one-goal lead and held that for much of the second half. The Moroccan side employed new tactics in the second half as they sought to wind down the clock every chance they got. Raja Casablanca players went down any chance they got and delayed taking any set pieces or goal kicks.

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They did try to get a second goal and threatened the AmaZulu goals on occasion. In the 76th minute, they were rewarded for their pressure when Illias Haddad scored from close range. AmaZulu’s poor defending came back to haunt them as they left Haddad free in the box. The defender didn’t waste his opportunity and buried the ball in the back of the net.

With a two-goal lead, Raja Casablanca looked to increase it but had to settle for just the two. AmaZulu’s best chance came in extra time as Bongi Ntuli produced a powerful header from a corner that was heading into the corner of the goal. Fakhr stretched out a hand and pushed the ball away, getting to his feet quickly to make a follow-up save.

Both teams had seven goal attempts during the game but the 2-0 score proved who made the most of their chances. Raja Casablanca have now qualified for the quarter-finals while AmaZulu will have to hope for other results to go in their favour if they want to stand a chance.

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CAF Champions League: Amazulu target Raja Casablanca double to qualify for quarterfinals

Earlier Sports Brief reported that Amazulu is still in with the chance of qualifying for the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League quarterfinals. In order to do so, they have to complete the home-and-away double of Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca.

The match will take place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium starting at 6pm on Friday evening. As reported by SuperSport, Usuthu failed to convert their chances in Algeria as they lost 2-0 to ES Setif on matchday four, which has left Group B wide open with two matches to go.

The Black Eagles went level with Benni McCarthy's Usuthu side on six points, but leapfrogged them into second place by virtue of a superior goal difference. Raja lead the group with nine points.