(1st leg result: 1:2)
Raja face a difficult task
in this second leg, like they did the same time last year against Djoliba
from Mali. Will they again be lucky like last year when they survived two
penalty shoot-outs on their way to the title (one in the round of last
16, one in the final)?
Jeanne d'Arc (Senegal) v Raja Casablanca
(Morocco) 1:0
1st half:
-Raja with a good start
and some half chances
-Jeanne d'Arc starts to
create some things themselves and want a penalty when a player seems to
have been fouled but the referee waves on
-('12) brilliant through
ball on #10 but his shot in the corner is deflected by a great save of
the Senegalese keeper for a corner
-('38) after some minutes
with less excitement in front of the goals, a Jeanne d'Arc offside trap
fails and Raja storms with 3 players in direction of the Senegalese goalkeeper.
Inaccurate passing spoils the opportunity
-('45) another big counter
opportunity for Raja but #18 hits across the bar from 12 meters
-('45) on the reverse attack
Jeanne d'Arc finishes more accurate, a fine through ball by #10 and #4
who had initiated the attack by a cross ball and then had been neglected
on the left wing scores from 7 meters - 1:0
-('injury time): Raja tries
to answer right away but is stopped
Halftime: 1:0
It had been a match well
fit for Raja who could stand well in defence and start dangerous counter
attacks. Jeanne d'Arc tried to play patient and defend the counter attacks
by the offside trap but got into trouble several times anyway. But an unconcentrated
Casablanca team paid on a reverse counter attack themselves and now the
whole situation is turned around: If they do not score in the second half
they will become eliminated!
2nd half:
-the second haalf sees a
disappointing game in which both teams only create half chances
-Raja seems unable to force
vital opportunities, now that the Senegalese defence is not open for counter
attacks anymore, they seem ineffective in one against one situations in
the final third of the field
-Jeanne d'Arc seeks to conserve
the score and play down the clock
-('85) the match becomes
a little more tensed, no wonder - the scoreline is awefully close, one
goal can turn it around
-('85) there are really
no clearcut chances up to here in the second half
-('89) Jeanne d'Arc supporters
have to hold their breath awhen the keeper who seems suddenly nervous drops
a cross and looks bad on the next one as well, but nothing happens
-('injury time) the most
exciting scene yet in the Senegalese penalty area but eventually the keeper
plucks down the ball
-('injury time) Raja play
out the defence but the finishing from 7 meters goes across the bar
-('injury time) the Senegalese
defence has completely lost control: but the keeper can save a shot from
10 meters for a corner
Final result: 1:0
A disappointing second half
by Raja Casablanca. Only in injury time they were a real threat to the
Senegalese goal. Jeanne d'Arc has qualified for the group stage in a quite
unspectacular way. Scoring the goal short before halftime after Raja Casblanca
had squandered their opportunities proved to be the key to the big leap
forward.
reuters/dailysoccer:
Scorer: Aly Diallo 45
(AFP: Mohamed Diallo)
Attendance 15,000
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