‘We are at a big disadvantage’ – Petro coach Santos

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday May 10, 2022. 11:00

Petro de Luanda coach Alexandre Santos has admitted that his side is “at a big disadvantage” in their CAF Champions League semifinal tie against Wydad Casablanca.

The Moroccan club claimed a 3-1 win in the Angola capital in the first leg clash, played this past Saturday afternoon at Estadio 11 de Novembro.

An own goal from Tiago Azulao, as well as strikes from Yahya Jabrane and Guy Mbenza, leaves Wydad with a strong lead heading into the return game in Casablanca on Friday night.

Os Tricoloroes have a tenuous hold in the tie thanks to Ricardo Job’s late consolation goal in the first leg, but they have a mountain to climb if they are to advance into the final on May 29.

“[The first leg] result complicates our aspirations to reach the final,” admitted Santos, as quoted by O Jogo.

“We are at a big disadvantage for the second leg and I know it will be very difficult, because we know which team we will face in front of their audience.”

Wydad coach Walid Regraui, meanwhile, revealed that his side were able to turn Petro’s strengths against them in the first leg.

“We knew that Petro de Luanda likes to play tiki taka [short passing] and we had a strategy of letting them play and going over their mistakes,” said the Red Castle tactician.

“And, quite simply, that strategy worked very well for my team. We expected to win, but I must say that Petro are a very strong team and we didn’t expect to win by 3-1.”

The aggregate winners of the semifinal tie will advance to play either Al Ahly or ES Setif in the final.