Despite playing more than 83 minutes of the match with a man less, two-time winners Wydad Athletic Club beat home side CR Belouizdad 1-0 in the first leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League quarter final encounter on Saturday.

Guy Mbenza scored 19 seconds into the second half and despite seeing only 25pc of the possession in the game, Wydad had the job done to give them an advantage heading into next weekend’s return tie in Casablanca.

The Moroccan giants had to finish the match with 10 men after Jalal Daoudi was sent off just seven minutes into the match following a VAR intervention. But Wydad managed the numerical handicap to clinch victory.

Both sides had chances in the opening half, with Mbenza seeing a well-timed header flash just wide while Chouaib Keddad had a rasping shot from distance fly inches over.

In the second half, Wydad had the goal just 19 seconds in when Mbenza rose well inside the box to head home from an Ayoub El Amloud cross from the right.

It was a massive goal for Wydad who had maintained their tactical discipline despite being a man down.

The hosts pushed them to defend deep, but were undone by poor decision making in the final third.

Skipper Chemseddine Nessakh attempted to catch the keeper off his guard with a dipping freekick from the left, striking the ball over while substitute Kheiredine Merzougui had a backpost header deflected wide for a corner.

The two had the best chances at the death, first skipper Nessakh seeing his header flying straight to the keeper’s arms while in the 92nd minute, Merzougui saw his looping header come off the basement of the upright.

Soka25east.com