Mosimane leads Al Ahly to victory in Casablanca

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Oct 17, 2020. 23:34

Al Ahly took a huge step towards reaching the 2019-20 Caf Champions League final with a 2-0 win over Wydad Casablanca at Stade Mohamed V in Morocco on Saturday evening.

Goals from Mohamed Magdy and Ali Maaloul led the Red Devils to a comfortable win in their first-leg semifinal showdown and they will now be overriding favourites to advance on aggregate, heading into next weekend’s reverse fixture.

The Egyptian giants hit the front after just four minutes. Afsha pounced on a defensive error from Yahya Jabrane before racing towards goal and finishing with aplomb to hand Pitso Mosimane’s team the perfect start.

Wydad were offered a golden chance to level matters after Mohamed Elshenawy fouled Junior Magbi inside the penalty area on the cusp of half-time, but the Al Ahly captain denied Badi Aouk from the spot before pouncing on the rebound to make immediate amends for his mistake.

Al Ahly were handed a penalty kick of their own on the hour mark after Brahim Najmeddine was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area. Maaloul stepped up to the spot and made no mistake to double the visitors lead.

Wydad pushed forward in search of a goal in the closing stages, but the eight-time champions held firm to put one foot in next month’s showpiece.

The return match between these two teams is set for Egypt on Friday 23 October, with the winners facing either Zamalek or Raja Casablanca in the final on November 6.

Wydad Casablanca (0) 0

Al Ahly (1) 2 (Magdy 4′ Maaloul 62′ pen.)

Wydad Casablanca: Tagnaouti; Jabrane, Nakach (Comara 63′), El Haddad, Najmeddine, Attiat Allah (Gaddarine 46′), Aouk (Kazadi 77′), El Karti, El Hassouni, Mgabi (El Moutaraji 63′), Noussir (Asrir 77′).

Al Ahly: Elshenawy; Ibrahim, Ashraf, Elshahat (El Sheikh 85′), Dieng (Fathi 46′), Elsoulia, Mohsen (Geraldo 71′), Magdy, Maaloul, Ajayi, Hany.