The Brazilians lost in the semi-finals to Raja Casablanca

Football

Tomorrow in the final of the Club World Cup, the German Bayern will play with the Moroccan Raja Casablanca. The hosts of the competition created the main sensation of the tournament on Wednesday, beating the Brazilian Atletico Mineiro led by Ronaldinho in the semi-finals - 3:1. Raja Casablanca became only the second African club in history to play in a decisive match of the world championship.

Every year the Club World Championship follows approximately the same familiar scenario. Clubs from Europe and South America enter the tournament from the semi-final stage and then meet in the final. An exception to the rule occurred only in 2010, when Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of the Congo sensationally reached the decisive match. The Africans eventually lost to the Italian Inter - 0:3, but remained in history. On Wednesday, Moroccan Raja Casablanca followed the Congolese there, becoming the second African club in history to reach the World Cup finals.

Paradoxically, Raja Casablanca got to the club world championship to some extent by accident. The fact is that, unlike other teams, he did not become the strongest on his continent, but passed through the tournament organizer’s quota.

Raja Casablanca had to start, together with New Zealand's Auckland, earlier than the rest of the competitors - in the play-off meeting for a place in the quarterfinals. And the meeting was very difficult for the Moroccans. Muhssin Yajur's goal late in the first half was met by the visitors after the break with a fine strike from Roy Krishna and were then seconds away from sending the game into extra time. The New Zealanders were prevented from doing this by Abdelilah Hafidi, who brought Raja Casablanca a 2:1 victory in stoppage time.

The quarterfinal match against the Mexican Monterrey was even more dramatic for the Moroccans. If in the game against Auckland the tournament hosts dictated the terms, then against the team from Mexico they had to play “number two” and fight back most of the time. Despite this, Chemseddin Chtibi gave Raja Casablanca the lead in the first half. Jose Maria Basanta equalized the score after the break. The winner was determined in extra time - Kouko Guehi brought victory to the Moroccans in the 95th minute.

Having survived the quarterfinals under Mexican pressure, Raja Casablanca faced an even more difficult test in the semifinals - a match against one of the tournament favorites - the Brazilian Atletico Mineiro. The winner of the Libertadores Cup, led by the 2005 Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldinho and other famous players in the lineup. Such as the 2002 world champion Gilberto Silva, who played for CSKA Moscow, Jo, and Guilherme, who played for Dynamo Kiev. However, neither Gilberto Silva nor Guilherme appeared on the field on Wednesday, and in general the match became a clear confirmation that football is not played by names.

Throughout the game, Atletico Mineiro had a slight advantage, but the Moroccans acted extremely strictly and looked for their chances in counterattacks. Actually, after one of them, Raja Casablanca opened the scoring in the 51st minute. Having picked up speed on the left flank, Abdelilah Hafedi passed the ball into the center for Muhssin Yajur, who, despite opposition from the defender, placed the ball into the left corner of the goal from the penalty area line. The Brazilians pulled back in the 63rd minute when Ronaldinho showed off his skills. While the 33-year-old may not be as creative or quick as he was in his prime, he still takes brilliant free kicks. With a twisting shot that rebounded off the post, he left no chance for the Raja Casablanca goalkeeper.

The Brazilians desperately tried to avoid extra time, but at the same time acted too straightforwardly and did not pose insurmountable tasks to their opponents. Moreover, in the 84th minute the guests’ position became critical. Atletico Mineiro defender Revere tackled Muhssin Yajur in his own penalty area and earned a penalty. The penalty kick was converted by Mohsin Mutauali to give Raja Casablanca the lead.

In the remaining time, the Brazilian players' attempts to equalize the score were in vain. Moreover, rushing with all their might to recoup, they missed a counterattack, as a result of which two players of the Moroccan club found themselves in front of the goalkeeper. Mutauali almost missed the chance, hitting the crossbar, but the ball bounced to Vivien Mabhida, who set up the final result of the match.

The Raja Casablanca football players, who as a whole team threw themselves on their knees and began to bow, first of all thanked the higher powers for the 3:1 victory, and it seemed that they themselves did not believe that the miracle had been performed. It was difficult for them to realize that they had beaten the team of Ronaldinho himself, to whom after the match, it seems, the Moroccans sincerely apologized, and then began to dismantle the legendary Brazilian’s equipment for souvenirs, stealing not only his T-shirt, but also taking away his boots as a souvenir.

Bayern will hardly be able to spoil the mood of the Raja Casablanca players in the final tomorrow. The Moroccan collection will definitely be replenished - at least with T-shirts from Munich stars.

Dmitry Martsenishin

Club World Cup in Morocco

1/2 finals. Raja Casablanca (Morocco)--Atletico Mineiro (Brazil) 3:1 (Yajour, 51; Mutauali, 84 (pen); Mabide, 90+4 - Ronaldinho, 63).

The final of Bayern (Germany) - Raja Casablanca and the match for third place Guangzhou (China) - Atletico Mineiro will take place tomorrow.

Newspaper "Kommersant Ukraine" No. 213 dated December 20, 2013, p. 8

Authors:

Dmitry Martsenishin

Themes:

Football

Atletico Mineiro was dismantled for souvenirs