The electrifying atmosphere at the Stade Mohamed V was the perfect stage for an intense CAF Champions League clash, but it was ASFAR who silenced the Raja faithful with a commanding 2-0 win to open their campaign in Group B.
ASFAR executed a tactical masterclass, soaking up Raja’s relentless pressure and striking with precision to secure the three points.
Raja Casablanca came out strong, dominating possession and dictating the tempo. They carved out chance after chance, testing ASFAR goalkeeper El Khayati early on. But the visitors stood firm, their defense marshaled expertly by captain Mohamed Ait Ouarkhane.
As halftime loomed, ASFAR delivered a gut-punch. A swift counterattack caught Raja’s defense off guard, and forward Mohamed Hammoudan clinically slotted the ball home in the 41st minute. The goal stunned the home crowd and gave ASFAR a precious 1-0 lead heading into the break.
The second half saw Raja ramp up the intensity, pinning ASFAR deep into their half. The Casablanca giants seemed destined to equalize when they earned a penalty in the 75th minute after a clumsy challenge in the box.
Up stepped Bougrine, but the hero of the moment was El Khayati. The ASFAR goalkeeper dived, stopping the penalty with a sensational save that left the Raja fans in disbelief.
With Raja throwing everything forward in search of an equalizer, gaps began to appear at the back. ASFAR exploited this in the dying moments of the game. In the 90+7th minute, Ait Ouarkhane put the ball past the helpless Raja goalkeeper to seal the victory.
The late goal was a dagger to the hearts of the Raja faithful, who had witnessed their team dominate possession but fail to convert chances.
As the referee blew the final whistle, the ASFAR players celebrated passionately on the pitch, knowing they had pulled off a monumental away victory. For Raja, it was a bitter pill to swallow, as their quest for continental glory got off to the worst possible start.
This result puts ASFAR in a strong position in Group B, while Raja must regroup quickly if they hope to progress.
