Raja Casablanca - Shooting Stars

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   Champions League match report:
    Shooting Stars (Nigeria) - Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
    (date: October 9th 1999)

the match report

champions league

african football

standing before the match:

1	Raja Casblanca	3	3-0	9
2	Al Ahly	4	6-5	6
3	Hearts Of Oak	4	5-4	6
4	Shooting Stars	3	2-7	0

(group winner advances to finals)

before the match

Although there remains a theoretical chance for Shooting Stars before the match it would be too much fairytale to believe in. The Nigerians had played better than 0 points from 3 matches suggest. But in the Nigerian league, that has just finsihed, they have been relegated, the first time such happened to the champions of the past year. One reason for such inconsistency might be that succesful West African clubs lose their best players immediately to Europe.
Motivation should be no problem anyway as this match is a rare remaining opportunity now for Shooting Stars players to display their talents.

before the match

Raja Casablanca have been the minimalists of the competition. 3 goals 9 points.
They seem to be masters of organizing and increasing or decreasing the space and create matches with limited number of goal chances.
The players combine individual skills with a good view of the game.
After yesterday Al Ahly has beaten Hearts Of Oak Raja needs only 4 points (maybe less) from the 3 remaining matches (including this one) to qualify.

the match report (1)

In what looked to be warm conditions and a dry ground, both teams played concentrated for most of the first half. This meant the match had some slow passages and few goal scenes.
Raja players despite looking smaller seemed equally strong in one-to-one situations.
The match was good to watch anyway as there were not too many mistakes and both teams had a technical approach in creating chances.

Only late in first half Shooting Stars created some excitement and a very good chance by a header that missed goal only close (40th). From then on Raja Casablanca played more dangerous as Shooting Stars seem to lose concentration.

Both sides had controversal scenes after possibly foul play in the penalty area.

Halftime: 0:0

(stats: shots: 8:5)

the match report (2)

The second half saw a different picture with a lot of goal scenes, maybe helped by the growing tiredness of players which might have also lead to a lack of concentration in converting the chances.

Shooting Stars began attacking, using the wings and causing some troubles for the Casablanca defence.

51th: another very controversial scene in the Nigerian box when a broken through Moroccain player pursued by a Nigerian defender came to fall.
57th: Raja opportunity after corner
60th: Raja causes turmoil in front of the Nigerian goal

Shooting Stars show Raja can be brought into troubles when playing over the wings, Raja counters remain dangerous.

64th: almost own goal by header of Nigerian defender
65th: opportunity for a broken through Shootings Star but the goalkeeper came out in the right moment
67th: big opportunity counter Raja had played out the defence, but the shot was inaccurately
69th: header opportunity for Shooting Stars after attack along the wing

now the match a seesaw battle, players now spread wide across the field

77th: another good opportunity for Raja wasted unconcentrated
78th: answered by a counter and another wing play finished with a header into the goal by Pius - 1:0

Against Al Ahly Shooting Stars had wasted such an advantage, what happens now?

81th: header Raja caused some diff for the keeper
85th: Nigerian goalkeeper almost surprised by a shot from midfield
89th: Raja Casablanca pressure leaves the Nigerian defence more and more confused
90th: another controversial looking scene in the Nigerian box, followed by a corner and a header against the crossbar
two more corners in extra time and then the final whistle: Shooting Stars win 1:0

Final result: 1:0

This time the Raja Casablanca minimalists did not have the luck on their sides as they had in Cairo. On the long term Shooting Stars had deserved some points and the results leave Hearts Of Oak and Al Ahly with a chance again for the final.

standing after the match:

1 Raja Casblanca 4 3-1 9

2 Al Ahly 4 6-5 6

3 Hearts Of Oak 4 5-4 6

4 Shooting Stars 4 3-7 3

(group winner advances to finals)

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