Zamalek, Raja in final
Nov 18, 2002
CASABLANCA - Raja Casablanca stormed into the African Champions League final with a 4-0 thrashing of ASEC Abidjan as they overcame a two-goal deficit in a pulsating semi-final comeback on Sunday.
Zamalek 2 TP Mazembe 0
Zamalek win 3-1, aggregate
Raja 4 ASEC Abidjan 0
Raja won 4-2 on aggregate
CASABLANCA - Raja Casablanca stormed into the African Champions League final with a 4-0 thrashing of ASEC Abidjan as they overcame a two-goal deficit in a pulsating semi-final comeback on Sunday.
The home side dominated from start to finish, launching wave after wave of attacks at their visitors who eventually cracked under the sheer pressure of the onslaught, and beat them 4-2 on aggregate after losing the first leg 2-0 in the Ivory Coast.
Raja, coached by former Belgian national team trainer Walter Meeuws, overcame treacherous conditions, where rainy weather had turned the pitch at the Mohamed V stadium into a virtual mud bath, to secure their third final appearance in six years.
They meet Zamalek of Egypt in the final over two legs next month. Zamalek beat TP Mazembe Englebert of the DR Congo 3-1 on aggregate in the other semi-final.
But it took until stoppage time at the end of the first half for Raja Casablanca to score when Hicham Aboucherouane converted a square cross from midfielder Tajeddine Sami.
Aboucherouane had instigated several chances from the left wing before that, but the Moroccan hosts looked set for a frustrating night as they squandered gilt-edged opportunities, slipping at vital moments.
Cameroonian-born striker Francois Endene Elokan was guilty of missing most of those chances.
Zamalek win 3-1, aggregate
Raja 4 ASEC Abidjan 0
Raja won 4-2 on aggregate
CASABLANCA - Raja Casablanca stormed into the African Champions League final with a 4-0 thrashing of ASEC Abidjan as they overcame a two-goal deficit in a pulsating semi-final comeback on Sunday.
The home side dominated from start to finish, launching wave after wave of attacks at their visitors who eventually cracked under the sheer pressure of the onslaught, and beat them 4-2 on aggregate after losing the first leg 2-0 in the Ivory Coast.
Raja, coached by former Belgian national team trainer Walter Meeuws, overcame treacherous conditions, where rainy weather had turned the pitch at the Mohamed V stadium into a virtual mud bath, to secure their third final appearance in six years.
They meet Zamalek of Egypt in the final over two legs next month. Zamalek beat TP Mazembe Englebert of the DR Congo 3-1 on aggregate in the other semi-final.
But it took until stoppage time at the end of the first half for Raja Casablanca to score when Hicham Aboucherouane converted a square cross from midfielder Tajeddine Sami.
Aboucherouane had instigated several chances from the left wing before that, but the Moroccan hosts looked set for a frustrating night as they squandered gilt-edged opportunities, slipping at vital moments.
Cameroonian-born striker Francois Endene Elokan was guilty of missing most of those chances.