Zouheir El Moutaraji was the hero as Wydad Athletic Club beat defending champions Al Ahly 2-0 at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca on Monday night to clinch their third CAF Champions League trophy.
Zouheir El Moutaraji was the hero as Wydad Athletic Club beat defending champions Al Ahly 2-0 at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca on Monday night to clinch their third CAF Champions League trophy.
Wydad beat Ahly in the 2017 final for their second African title, and completed the same routine, this time when the final is a single-leg affair, to send the city of Casablanca into frenzy.
The home side had the better start as they pushed Ahly into their own half straight from kick off. They threatened and had a brilliant opportunity after 10 minutes when Guy Mbenza picked a pass from Yahya Jebrane, but his rasping shot came off cracking under the crossbar.
Five minutes later though, they broke the deadlock. Moutaraji won the ball on the right side of Ahly’s defense, cut in and struck an unstoppable shot into the net.
Ahly tried to come back in the match after conceding, Taher Mohammed striking a shot from distance and deflected wide and from the third of ensuing corners, Yasser Ibrahim headed inches wide.
In the second half, Wydad started just as quick as they did in the first and just two minutes in had scored the second.
Moutaraji managed top sneak in behind Mohamed Hany for a tap in that was saved by Elshenawy. However, the rebound fell on his path again and he bundled the ball home, to kill off Ahly’s spirits.
Despite efforts by Ahly to get back into the match, including making full offensive changes, they couldn’t conjure a comeback.