Mamelodi Sundowns finish with NINE men in fiery loss to Raja Casablanca

Mamelodi Sundowns had two players sent off as they lost 1-0 away to Moroccan outfit Raja Casablanca on Saturday in a fiery CAF Champions League clash.

For the latest CAF Champions League news, bookmark The South African website’s dedicated section for free-to-read content

Midfielder Bathusi Aubaas was shown a straight red card late in the first half after a studs-up foul on Younes Najjari in the matchday 4 Group B showdown.

A similar offence 10 minutes from time resulted in Raja Casablanca substitute winger Marouane Zila being sent off by the Mauritanian referee.

Full-back Khuliso Mudau was the second Mamelodi Sundowns player to be expelled after he struck forward Nawfel Zerhouni in the face during added time.

Raja Casablanca won through a goal in the second minute of added time at the end of the first half with centre-back Benaissa Benamar firing into the net from close range amid appeals for offside.

It was the first win in the group stage for three-time former champions Raja Casablanca and the first loss for Mamelodi Sundowns, winners of the premier African club competition in 2016.

Meanwhile, group leaders FAR Rabat, the other Moroccan contenders, won 2-0 at home to Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo in northern city Meknes.

Military team FAR, who in 1985 became the first African champions from Morocco, top the table with eight points after four rounds.

Mamelodi Sundowns have five, Raja Casablanca four and Maniema three.

Victory has opened a path to a top-two finish and a quarter-finals slot for Raja Casablanca, who sacked Portuguese coach Ricardo Sa Pinto after losing away to Mamelodi Sundowns in the previous round.

Blunder

Raja Casablanca will make the knockout stage if they beat FAR next Saturday and Maniema eight days later in the final round.

FAR have occupied first place since matchday 1 and a blunder by Maniema goalkeeper Efonge Brudel at the end of the first half helped them stay on top.

Brudel failed to grasp a free-kick from outside the area by El Amine Zouhzouh and the ball landed in the net to give the Moroccan side a 2-0 half-time advantage that they retained.

Khalid Ait Ouarkhane had put FAR ahead on 12 minutes with a close-range shot after a goalmouth scramble following a low cross.

Orlando Pirates winners

Elsewhere, Orlando Pirates rose from third to first in Group C after cruising to a 3-0 win over bottom club Stade d’Abidjan of the Ivory Coast in Soweto.

Relebohile Mofokeng tapped the ball into the net midway through the first half, Patrick Maswanganyi doubled the advantage on 50 minutes and Namibian Deon Hotto added a late third goal.

Orlando Pirates have eight points, defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt seven, Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria six and Stade d’Abidjan one.

Will both Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates qualify for the quarter-finals?

Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1

Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp for the latest news.