Walid El Karti fired Wydad Casablanca into the 2020/2021 CAF Champions League semi-finals as the Moroccan international’s stoppage-time strike clinched a 1-0 win against MC Alger in a second-leg match played at Stade Mohammed V Stadium on Saturday night.
The win sees Wydad qualify for the last-four after winning the tie 2-1 on aggregate, while Algerian giants MC Alger bow out of the tournament.
The teams exchanged long range efforts in the early exchanges with El Kaabi shooting over the crossbar for the hosts and Mohamed Ounajem forcing Ahmed Boutagga into a good save.
MC Alger right-back Nabil Lamara thought they had a claim for a penalty in the 21st minute, but instead the fullback picked up a yellow card for simulation.
The WAC continued to dominate proceedings with El Kaabi in particular causing the Alger defence all sorts of problems.
Yahya Jabrane went close to opening Wydad’s account two minutes after the half-hour mark, his thunderous effort from outside the area flying just wide of Boutagga right-hand post.
Wydad continued were they left off after the interval with El Kaabi shooting wide before Jabrane saw his header fly straight at Bouttaga.
Alger went agonizingly close to breaking the deadlcoj in the 78th minute when Simon Msuva’s side-footed finish crashed against upright with Tagnaouti well beaten.
Badr Gaddarine pushed up field with 20 minutes remaining as Wydad went in desperate search of the opener knowing the difficulties they are set to face in the second-leg.
Wyad finally found their goal with four minutes remaining when Msuva’s knockdown found El Karti, who volleyed home a superb strike from close range, 1-0.
Wydad will face Kaizer Chiefs in the semifinals, with the first leg set to be staged in Morocco on June 18 and the return game in South Africa on June 25.
