Wydad Casablanca managed to secure a narrow 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the African Football League final.
The action unfolded at the Stade Mohamed V on Sunday night.
The Brazilians, coming off a goalless draw against Al Ahly in the semi-final second-leg, made two crucial changes to their line-up. Teboho Mokoena and Lesiba Nku returned to the starting XI, displacing Mothobi Mvala and Gaston Sirino. Under the guidance of coach Rulani Mokwena, Sundowns dominated the early exchanges, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
Seven minutes into the match, Mountassir Lahtimi of Wydad Casablanca showcased his dribbling prowess and threatened to break the deadlock. However, Rivaldo Coetzee, the resolute Sundowns defender, made a vital tackle to extinguish the danger in the box.
Wydad, known for their high-pressing game and swift transitions, kept Sundowns on their toes. Just before the half-hour mark, a menacing cross behind Sundowns’ defence failed to find a Moroccan attacker.
The home side finally drew first blood just before half-time when a cruel deflection by Coetzee redirected Lahtimi’s cross into the net, leaving Sundowns goalkeeper Williams helpless.
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— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) November 5, 2023
🗣️ "𝚆𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚒𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝙿𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚊"
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena's reaction after their 2⃣➖1⃣ loss against Wydad Casablanca in the 1st leg of the #AFLFinals!#SABCSportFootball #AFL pic.twitter.com/NOMG2rFBYI
The second half saw the game open up as Sundowns intensified their attacking efforts. They came perilously close to conceding a second goal when Yahya Attiat-Allah’s free-kick narrowly missed the bottom corner.
Sundowns regained their momentum on the 67th minute, with Mokwena making an inspired substitution. Gaston Sirino replaced Nku, and it proved to be a game-changer for the Tshwane giants.
Their persistence paid off with just 20 minutes left on the clock. A VAR review awarded Sundowns a penalty after spotting a handball by Yahya Jabrane. Abdelmounaim Boutouil stepped up to take the spot-kick and coolly levelled the score for the visitors.
However, Wydad were not to be outdone. They managed to restore their lead with a spectacular strike by Anas Serrhat 12 minutes before the final whistle. Williams, the Sundowns’ goalkeeper, could only get his fingertips to it, as the Moroccan side celebrated.
In the dying minutes, both teams went all out, with Wydad almost adding a third goal through El Houni’s sensational strike, which cruelly hit the crossbar. Despite the late drama, the two goals were sufficient for Wydad Casablanca to claim a vital first-leg victory.
The return leg promises to be another exhilarating clash, and football fans can mark their calendars for November 12 when these two formidable teams face off once again in Pretoria
