South African powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns secured a vital 1-0 victory over Raja Casablanca on Sunday in the third round of the CAF Champions League group stage.
The match’s lone goal came in the 66th minute, courtesy of Ikram Reiners, whose precise strike ensured Sundowns remained at the top of Group 2.
They now sit alongside AS FAR Rabat, each with five points. Meanwhile, Raja Casablanca’s struggles in the competition persist, with their tally frozen at just one point, leaving them bottom of the group, trailing Maniema Union by two points.
The game began with Raja in control, defying expectations with early offensive pressure. Noufel Zerhouni and Najari spearheaded attacks that tested Sundowns’ goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. However, despite their initial dominance, Raja failed to convert their chances into goals.
Sundowns weathered the storm and found opportunities of their own, only to be denied by Raja’s goalkeeper Anas Zniti and defender Abdullah Khafifi.
Unfortunately for Raja, Khafifi was forced off with an injury in the 34th minute, replaced by Issa Ben Ammar, marking a turning point in the game.
The second half saw Sundowns emerge stronger, increasing their attacking intensity. Their persistence paid off when Ikram Reiners found the back of the net, capitalizing on Raja’s defensive lapse.
Raja attempted a late comeback, scoring twice through Adam Nafati and Saber Boukrin, but both goals were ruled out for offside in the 72nd and 75th minutes, respectively. Despite their efforts, the Moroccan side could not find an equalizer, and the match concluded in favour of Sundowns.
This crucial win bolsters Sundowns’ campaign as they aim to progress from the group stage, while Raja Casablanca faces mounting pressure to turn their fortunes around in the remaining matches.
