Staff Reporter.
Raja Casablanca came from a goal down to claim a 1-1 draw against Orlando Pirates in a Caf Confederation Cup first leg quarter-final clash at the Orlando Stadium.
Pirates had started the game on the front foot and visiting keeper Anas Zniti had to react sharply in the seventh minute to keep out a deflected cross from Wayde Jooste, following a free-flowing move by the Soweto giants.
On the other end, Bucs keeper Wayne Sandilands didn’t have much to do until the 23rd minute when he made a routine save to keep out Soufiane Rahimi’s shot, which was partically blocked by Ben Motshwari.
The Bucaneers had the breakthrough they were looking for in the 39th minute when Jooste launched a long ball up field, which was flicked by a Raja defender into the path of Pule, who gobbled up the chance superbly as he took the ball in on goal before chipping it past the on-rushing Zniti.
Three minutes after the restart and the Moroccan side were left upset that they were not awarded a penalty after Malango’s touch in the box hit defender Ntsikelelo Nyauza on the arm.
It wasn’t given, but Raja kept up the pressure and it paid off on the hour mark when Malango out-muscled Nyauza and then turned inside Bongani Sam before firing a low shot in at the far post to level the score-line.
Even the introduction of Thembinkosi Lorch didn’t help the hosts much, with their next opening only arriving in the 82nd minute when Paseka Mako picked out Deon Hotto in the box, but a moment of indecision meant the chance came to nought.
In the end Raja took a crucial away goal back to Morocco with them.