Raja Casablanca and Pyramids FC drew 0-0 in the CAF Confederation Cup semifinal first-leg match at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Sunday night.
Moroccan giants Raja started the match brightly and looked like the better side. Soufine Rahimi almost scored after the Egyptian side Pyramids’ defence was exposed just 10 minutes into the game.
The 25-year-old forward pounced onto a loose ball on the edge of the box. He then unleashed a shot that needed a good save from goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy.
The visitors controlled the match. They had another chance to break the deadlock from inside the box in the 24th minute.
Rahimi was involved again as he received a good pass from Fabrice Ngoma. Unfortunately, the Moroccan miscued his shot as El Shenawy made an easy save.
Pyramids defended very well after the restart. Ahmed Samy contained Raja’s talisman Ben Malango. Malango came into the game having five goals in this season’s tournament.
Lassaad Chebbi, the Raja head coach, made attacking substitutions at the hour mark. He brought on Abdelilah Hafidi and Mohsine Moutaouali to make a difference.
Not Rahimi’s day
The best chances of the game continued to fall for Rahimi as the Moroccan beat the Pyramids keeper but was denied by a crucial goal-line clearance in the 68th minute of the CAF Confederation Cup tie.
The hosts then finally pushed forward in the closing stages of the game. Ramadan Sobhi failed to keep his free header on target for Pyramids that would have seen them snatch the victory.
However, the game ended 0-0 and Pyramids will be happy with the result as they have forced Raja into a competitive second leg in Morocco.
