ACTUALITE |
18.11.2002
Late Raja goals kill Asec hopes
Raja Casablanca 4-0 Asec Abidjan (Agg:4-2)
Morocco`s Raja Casablanca finally overwhelmed Asec Abidjan in injury time to qualify for the final of the African Champions League.
Having recovered their two-goal deficit by midway through the second half, Raja continually pounded the Asec goal, with the Ivorians desperately attempting to cling on to force the match to penalties.
But two goals in stoppage time finally sank their hopes and sent the capacity crowd in Casablanca into ecstasy.
On a pitch resembling the trenches of World War One, the match was a battle, with passing near impossible - the ball simply stopping in the mud.
Raja looked the more dangerous from the start, and Asec seemed hopeful of being able to simply protect their two-goal first leg advantage.
But after a first half that sapped both sides` strength, Asec`s advantage was halved on the stroke of half time, as Aboucherouane slid in to force the ball over the line from Sami`s cross.
Raja re-emerged after the break ever more determined, and were level on aggregate on 63 minutes, Endene Elokan slotting home past substitute goalkeeper Brahima Kone.
From then on the Moroccans bombarded the Asec goal, while the Ivorians tried to hold out for the lottery of penalties on the atrocious pitch.
But, two minutes into injury time, Elokan grabbed his second with a header that ensured they would not be necessary.
And four minutes later, with Asec entirely defeated, substitute Zouit volleyed a deft flick past Kone to confirm Raja`s passage to the final - and an all-North African tie with Egyptians Zamalek.
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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