Espérance plays
without their Okocha style playmaker, the (DR) Congolese Nsilulu.
The atmosphere seems
friendly but a Raja foul after 30 seconds followed with some show by the
fouled player heats up the atmosphere a first time. Some small fouls follow
and a first yellow card after 3 minutes against a Raja player.
As expected Espérance
attacks, Raja counters.
The hectic continues
after 8 minutes when before an Espérance free kick from the
right a Raja player goes down in the box and it takes two minutes before
the match continues.
After 12 minutes the
following happens:
After a ball is cleared
the referee sees something happening inside the Raja Casablanca penalty
area. Possibly he has watched the Raja Casablanca player #8 step upon a
Tunisian player and has interpreted it as an assault. He blows the whistle
and rewards the scene with a red card for the Marrocain player and a penalty
for Espérance Tunis.
At least he tries
to, as in the consequence the Casablanca players are outrageously refusing
to accept the situation threat to attack the referee and get into brawls
with security forces. Even some tensions between the fan groups seems to
be the consequence.Finally the Marrocain players leave the pitch and it
takes about 15 minutes before they return more settled.
A link to an important
commentary on the consequences for the view on the refereeing situation
will appear here soon
'26: the match continues
with the penalty which is saved by the Raja goalkeeper, shot by Azaiez
(#17).
It takes some time
now until the teams regain full concentration. Raja is even more drawn
back now and Espérance comes closer and closer.
'38 opportunity for
Azaiez (Espérance) but his header after a standard goes wide.
The referee does not
look any intimidated.
'43 and '44 more opportunities
for Espérance
Slowly Raja have their
coming out:
'45 Raja for the first time
comes 20 m near the Tunisian goal
'47 EST keeper El Ouaer
touches the ball the first time since the interruption.
'48 a first dangerous shot
by #10 Mosouda is saved by El Ouaer
'49(1st half) the following
corner finds a dangerous 16m header, again saved by El Ouaer
'51(1st half) free kick
for Raja, no problem for the Tunisian keeper
'57(1st) distance shot by
Gabsi wide
'58(1st) brilliant run by
Zitouni almost perfectly set up for Kanzari but he shoots wide from 12
m
'60 (last minute 1st half)
giant opportunity for Raja Casablanca, offside trap failed, skilfully played
finds a player alone in front of El Ouaer who touches the ball but also
strikes the player down. The ball rolls towrd the Tunisian goal and is
cleared off the line in the last moment.
The Marrocains protest again
and lose order what almost makes them fall to a dangerous Espérance
counter.
Finally the half is over.
Halftime: 0:0
Halftime stats: ball posession
60:40, corners 7:2, offsides 2:1, shots 7:4, fouls 9:14, red cards 0:1
The halftime break
has been very long.
'47(2nd half) 1st distance
attempt by Espérance
'49 counter opportunity
for Raja
When Raja accomplishes to
come close to the Tunisian goal they are dangerous.
'53 and following minutes:
several good opportunities for Espérance set up by attacks along
the two wings. A lot of constructive pressure by Espérance by using
the wing game perfectly.
'66 1st opportunity for
the brought in Nigerian Under20 international Julius Aghahowa but his volley
is inaccurate.
'more and more oopportunities
for Espérance when Casablanca concentrted on defending and time
wasting, among the most threating players is Ali Zitouni.
'80 #15 hits the crossbar
of the Raja goal from 16m
ball posession has even more
shifted in favour of the Tunisians
'82 Zitouni header wide
'87 big opportunity after
standard but Larussi header wide
'88 more big scenes for
EST but shots get blocked and the bouncing ball in a must score situation
is wasted when two players hamper each other.
'92 more turmoil inside
the Raja penalty area but another header is cleared off the line by a defender.
'94 a counter attack attempt
takes some time off the clock as Espérance is completely dominant
now.
After 5 minutes injury time:
the match is over, it has to be decided on penalties.
Final result: 0:0
Final stats: ball posession
66:34, corners 13:3, offsides 4:1, shots 17:6, fouls 17:19, red cards 0:1
Raja is determined to shoot
first, a slight psychologial advantage.
1a) Raja #11 scores - 0:1
1b) #4 Khaled Badra scores,
it is conspicious the Raja keeper steps out of the goal several meters
like the critisized behaviour of the USA women keeper in the Women World
Cup earlier this year. It seems the referee tells him about before the
next penalty. - 1:1
2a) Raja #4 scores - 1:2
2b) An Espérance
player (it is a tradition of The Shot That Passed Right Through The
Net to protect the names of the players who have the bad luck to fail in
penalty shoot-outs) lobs the ball which bounces back from the crossbar
- still 1:2
3a) A Raja player lobs the
ball across the bar - still 1:2
3b) Espérance #8
Gabsi scores - 2:2
4a) Raja #17 scores - 2:3
4b) Espérance #14
scores - 3:3
5a) Raja #9 scores - 3:4
5b) A Tuinisian player's
soft shot is saved by the Raja goalkeeper who is already 4 meters out of
the goal the moment he touches the ball. Whether the Tunisian player was
irritated and expected a repetition or just was nervous, he should have
stopped before shooting to protest. This way the referee says the attempt
counts, the stadium is in complete silence, the Tunisian players sink down
desperate and the Raja Casablanca players celebrate. They have won the
penalty shoot-out 4:3
Winner Champions League
1999: Raja Casablanca
The anti-goal machine has
beaten the Tunisian dream team.
With this winner not only
the club that already has won 1997 regains the title, also the coach that
has won the competition last year, 1998, with ASEC Abidjan, the Argentinian
Oscar Fullone defends his title with a new club!
The African Football Confederation
should rethink the mode as of the last 11 finals 6 have been decided on
penalties.
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