Wydad squeeze through to semifinals

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Mar 07, 2020. 23:00

Wydad Casablanca have squeezed into the semifinals of the CAF Champions League despite losing 1-0 away to Etoile du Sahel at the Olympic Stadum in Rades on Saturday night.

The result was not enough for the Tunisian hosts to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg in Morocco last weekend. WAC advance 2-1 on aggregate and will face Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the final four.

Etoile bossed possession from early on, looking to bring the likes of Karim Aribi and Iheb Msakni into the game, though Wydad offered a threat on the counter thanks to the scheming genius of Walid El Karti.

Yet goalkeepers Achraf Krir and Ahmed Tagnaouti remained relatively untested through the first half, with both teams more intent on needling each other as tensions continually threatened to boil over in this North African derby.

The half-time interval arrived with the score still locked at 0-0, a situation which very much favoured Wydad following their first-leg victory a week ago.

The second half continued in a similar vein to the second, until ESS finally broke through in the 58th minute: Aribi provided a fine finish after taking advantage of some space in Wydad’s defence to bring the home crowd to life.

Etoile looked to press home their advantage in the game and sent on Darwin Gonzalez and Souleymane Coulibaly in an effort to boost their attack.

Wydad, meanwhile, remained composed and determined in defence, knowing that closing up shop would be enough to force the hosts into mistakes.

In the end, WAC did just enough to hold on and frustrate Etoile, who were left to reflect on their inability to capitalise on earlier chances.

Etoile du Sahel (0) 1 (Aribi 58’)

Wydad Casablanca 0

Etoile: Krir, Kechrida, Ben Aziza, Sallemi, Ben Ouanes, Methnani (Gonzalez 58’), Ben Amor, Hannachi (Coulibaly 71’), Chikhaoui (Brigui 86’), Msakni, Aribi

Wydad: Tagnaouti, Noussir, Asrir, Comara, Nahiri, Nakach, Jabrane, Aouk (Rhaili 87’), El Karti, El Haddad (El Amloud 84’), El Hassouni (Gaddarine 63’)