The finalist from both of them will meet the winner of the other semi-final confrontation between Al-Ahly and Tunisian Esperance, knowing that the Egyptian giants won 3-0 away on Friday.
The return matches will be held next week in Pretoria and Cairo.
“We presented a good level during the match against Wydad and in front of its fans,” said Moroccan defender of Sundowns club Abdel Moneim Boukrine. “We were determined to win, but the numerical shortage in the second half left us with some solutions and was very influential on our offensive plans, as we defended in order to come out with a clean sheet.” On the second leg, he added, “The meeting in Pretoria will not be easy, and we hope to perform well and reach the final.”
“Greatness never dies”
Wydad played the match in a new and changed way, led by Belgian coach Sven Vandenbroek, who took over the helm of the team a few days ago instead of Spain’s Juan Carlos Garrido. Greatness never dies,” referring to the team’s revival after a period of disappointment and instability.
The first half was close, as the South African team relied on its offensive strength in an attempt to snatch the lead, while the Moroccan team presented a balanced performance between defense and attack, and kept a clean sheet.
This is the first match this season in which Sundowns failed to score.
Wydad captain Yahya Gebran said that the two teams presented a distinguished performance, and added, “We strived for victory, and we will prepare for the return match, which is like the second half.” Regarding harmony with the new coach, “we try as much as possible to apply the information of the new coach who came according to knowledge about the team, and we will cooperate.” For the success of the team.
And he managed to do this through Peter Shalulili, who shook the net of Moroccan goalkeeper Youssef Moti`, but the Ghanaian referee, Daniel Laria, canceled it on the grounds of offside, after he invoked the video assistant referee, “VAR” (12).
The guests’ preference continued through the trio Shalulili, Themba Zouani and Thabelo Morena. By God, the Moroccan team had opportunities through Mohamed Onajem and Senegalese scorer Pauly Sambo. Mohamed Onajem responded with a shot that passed over the goal (17).
Zawani had a favorable opportunity to open the scoring, but goalkeeper Youssef Moti’ saved the situation (33).
The Ghanaian referee pointed out the direct red card to Sundowns midfielder New Maima, after his violent intervention against Wydad defender Amin Abu Al-Fath, after reviewing the video assistant referee (43).
The expulsion was like a turning point in the match, and the Moroccan team wasted three consecutive chances in the calculated time instead of the lost, the most important of which was Ayoub Al-Amoud’s header next to the goal (45 + 3).
Vandenbroek tried to quickly take advantage of the numerical superiority in the second half, as he pushed striker Zuhair Al-Manerji to strengthen the offensive side, and the owners of the land took more control, and the ball reached from Gebran to Senegalese Sambo, who set out and hit a powerful ball that went out of the net in a strange way (57).
The guest team tried to congregate in its area, narrowing the spaces in front of the Wydad team, which lost the efforts of its attacker, Sambo, after his injury (68).
There was an important opportunity for Ayman Al-Hassouni, who was alone with goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, but he failed to score the net (74).
Vandenbroek strengthened his attack to take advantage of his team’s control by involving the Libyan wing, Moayad Al-Lafi, and midfielder Hamoud Abdullah, and substitute Hamid Haddad’s header passed by the goal in one of the dangerous opportunities for the Red Team (87).
And the referee brought out the red card for the second time, this time in the face of Chilean Mamelodi defender Marcelo Allende, due to excessive violence against Democratic Congolese defender Arsene Zola, and after reviewing “VAR” again (90 + 3).
Sundowns coach Rolani Mokoena indicated that his team performed well in the two halves, and added, “We had a great deal of possession of the ball, but we did not score, and I am satisfied with the players’ performance.”
He continued, “Our players have gained a lot of experience this season. I trust them and they are an honest group on the team’s success in reaching a distant point in the competition, and I give them the credit for this result here in Casablanca, which I consider positive.”
