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MENAFN- Morocco World News) Rabat – The Moroccan football team Wydad of Casablanca (WAC) has reached the CAF Champions League Final after defeating USM Alger (USMA) 3-1 in the second leg of their face off on Saturday.
Dozens of Thousands of Wydad fans flocked to the Mohammed V stadium in Casablanca in hopes to see their team reaches the final of the African cup for the first time in six years.
Wydad entered the game as the favorite by virtue of the 0-0 result of the first leg in Algiers.
Wydad seemed set to book its ticket to the final against a relatively weaker rival and also after scoring two goals before things almost went upside down.
In minute 25 the Wydad's right-back Abdelatif Noucir sent long shot on the right corner of UCM. After receiving a great back heel cross from midfielder Assaidi striker Achraf Bencherki entered the penalty area of the Algerian team and gave a brilliant pass to Oualid El Karti who scored the first goal for the Moroccan teams, making thousands of fans go crazy.
The Moroccan championship title-holder seemed on good track when Bencherki, after receiving a good pass from a free kick by Mohamed Ounajem, jumed higher than the Algerian defenders and beautifully netted the second goal with a header in the 53 minute. Shortly after a mostly unpleasant surprise happened when Wydad's defender Amine Atouchi was sent out after a tackle against an Algerian player. Having received a second yellow card, the Moroccan player left the picth in regret as he knew his teammates will have to endure the pressure of their rivals for the remainder of the game.
The Algerian team benifited from this advantage to score a goal in the 66 minute of the game. USMA kept pushing for the equalizer. A second goal would have enabled the Algerians to book their ticket to the finals.
In the extra time, a counter attack by Wydad players put pressure on the Algerian defense. Bencherqui, face to face with an Algerian defender, dribbled the latter and beautifully sent a shot in USMA's goal. No more suspense, Wydad was officially declared a CAF Champions League finalist.
Suday's game between the Egyptian team of Al Ahly and the Tunisian Etoile de Sahel in Cairo will determine which of the two will face Wydady in the final.
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