Chiefs beat Wydad Casablanca 1-0 to have one foot in the CAF Champions League final

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Kaizer Chiefs have put one foot in the finals of the CAF Champions League following a 1-0 over Wydad Casablanca in the first leg of the CAF Champions League.

Chiefs broke the deadlock on the 34th minute when Njabulo Blom broke down the right flank on a counter attack and send in a cross that found Samir Nurkovic inside the box.

The Serbian was made no mistake beating the Wydad goalkeeper Ahmed Tagnaouti on the near post to put Amakhosi ahead.

The goals was initially ruled for offside but after VAR check, the goal was allowed to stand – much to the happiness of the Amakhosi technical team on the field and up in the stands where newly-appointed Chiefs coach, Stuart Baxter, and the club’s Technical Director, Molefi Ntseki were having an aerial view of the proceedings.

It was a performance far from pleasing performance from the Naturena side, but the Arthur Zwane-led technical team will be forgiven for having got their organisational play on point tactically.

Wydad tried to level matters before the break but Chiefs goalkeeper, Bruce Bvuma, who is gradually proving himself worthy of the No.: 1 spot in the team, was equal to the task.

Chiefs went into the break in the driving seat.

But the worst was not over as it became another nail-biting affair in the second half with the Moroccans knocking hard on the Chiefs doors.

 

Chiefs, who had a ball possession of 20% to Wydad’s 80%, were clearly out to absorb the pressure, remain tactically disciplined defensively and catch the Moroccans on counter and transition attacks. This result in high turn-over rates on the Chiefs side who constantly lost the ball, rarely reaching the creation zone. This allowed the opposition to continue to pile pressure but Chiefs who defended with 10 men for most of the game but brilliantly covering space with notable discipline which frustrated their opponents.

The match ended 1-0 to Chiefs, confirming their one foot in the final of the CAF Champions League. Amakhosi will face off again against the Moroccans when they play host to them on the 26th of June.

Earlier in the day, Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly’s beat Tunisia’s Esperance 1-0. Should Chiefs advance to the finals they will either meet Al Ahly or Esperance.

5 months ago