In a exciting match in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League group stage, Raja Casablanca celebrated their first win of the group stage against Mamelodi Sundowns team, which had their unbeaten run come to an end. The match ended 1-0 in favor of the Moroccan team, putting Sundowns in a difficult position and raising questions after their loss.
The match started with high hopes as both teams wanted to show they were strong in this important Group B game. Mamelodi Sundowns tried to take an early lead, and striker Iqraam Rayners almost scored in the 18th minute. But the excitement for Sundowns fans quickly turned to sadness when the goal was disallowed for offside.
Just before halftime, the game changed when Sundowns midfielder Bathusi Aubaas received a red card for a dangerous tackle on Raja’s Younes Najjari. This meant Sundowns had to play with one less player for the rest of the match.
Taking advantage of their extra player, Raja Casablanca started to dominate the game. They scored just before halftime when Youssef Belammar delivered a perfect cross after a corner kick, and Benaissa scored with a powerful shot into the bottom left corner of the net. This goal thrilled Raja fans and left Sundowns behind at halftime.
In the second half, both teams worked hard to score again. Sundowns tried to find their rhythm but struggled to break through Raja’s solid defense. In a twist of fate, Raja’s Maroane Zila received a second yellow card in the 80th minute, leading to both teams having ten players as the game heated up.
As the match moved into stoppage time, Sundowns faced another issue. Khuliso Mudau was sent off with a direct red card for bad behavior in the 95th minute, leaving Sundowns with only nine players as they tried to turn the match around.
When the final whistle blew, Raja Casablanca achieved a tough 1-0 win, handing Mamelodi Sundowns and their new coach Miguel Cardoso his first defeat after three games. Even with the loss, Sundowns remained in second place in Group B, but now they were three points behind AS FAR and just one point ahead of Raja, with only two points separating them from Maniema.
As the CAF Champions League continues, there is pressure on Sundowns to recover and respond, while Raja Casablanca will aim to build on this important victory to establish themselves as serious contenders in the group.
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