AmaZulu can hold heads high after Raja Casablanca defeat but need to improve

Durban - AmaZulu fought bravely but were ultimately outdone as Raja Casablanca beat them 1-0 in their first ever CAF Champions League group stage fixture at the Stade Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on Saturday night.

After some bad luck, Raja deservedly took the lead in the 70th minute.

After good build-up play, the man who gave the home side the lead was Mohsine Mautaouali. With Usuthu players retreating in big numbers to protect their goal, the Raja players exchanged passes before Mautaouali produced a calm finish to score.

As expected, it was the home side who had more possession in the opening exchanges of the game. Casablanca had their first real opportunity of the game in the ninth minute as Zakaria El Wardi took a right-footed shot from outside the box which went wide.

Benni McCarthy’s men had their best opportunity of the first half on the stroke of half time as a breakaway led to Makhehlene Makhaula picking the ball in a goal scoring position. The veteran shot but was unlucky to have seen his shot hit the woodwork.

Overall, AmaZulu would have been the happier side to enter the changeroom at half-time without having conceded.

Usuthu’s key striker Bongi Ntuli was not a threat at all to the Raja defence amidst being deprived of service. He was eventually withdrawn in the last half hour and replaced by Abraham Majok.

Raja nearly took the lead in the 64th minute as Mohamed Al Makaazi floated in a cross towards the path of Kadima Kabangu. The DR Congo international beat Veli Mothwa with his header but it was just wide.

Warming up for an experience that’s sure to go down in Usuthu history. Will you be joining us tonight as we take on @RCAofficiel?