As in 2017, Wydad Casablanca is eliminated as soon as it enters the running in the Club World Cup 2022… Yet at home and carried by an incredible atmosphere at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, the winners of the last African Champions League were overthrown by the Saudis of Al Hilal and eliminated on penalties (1-1, 3- 5 tab) this Saturday after a meeting that will leave them with a lot of regrets.
Dominators, the teammates of the former Messin Didier Lamkel Zé, freshly recruited and holder, indeed obtained the best situations from the first period. Daoudi notably capsized the stadium in the 20e minute but his goal was disallowed for offside. Lamkel Zé, he stumbled on the opposing goalkeeper. Returning from the locker room, however, Al Hilal did not freeze the atmosphere but WAC saved a dangerous ball on their line. In the process, Lamkel Zé crossed for the head of El Amloud who returned after bouncing on the ground and on the bar (1-0, 52e).
Al Hilal are heading to the Semi-finals! ⏩🇸🇦#ClubWC | @AlHilal_FC
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) February 4, 2023
ten against ten
Despite a heat stroke on a decisive save by Tagnaouti against Ighalo, Mehdi Nafti’s men seemed to hold their victory. Until the 89e minute, when Yahya Attiat-Allah, who recently almost signed for Montpellier, hit the ball with his hand in the box causing the equalizing penalty converted by Mohamed Kanno (1-1, 90 + 4e) and the expulsion of Jabrane for protest. During the 11 minutes of added time, it took two saves from Tagnaouti to maintain the draw and get to extra time.
During it, however, the Saudis did not take advantage of their numerical superiority for long since Kanno was in turn excluded following one of the many anti-game gestures that tarnished this meeting (94e). Everything was played on penalties and Attiat-Allah, again, weighed down his team from the start by finding a double post on his attempt. No more shots would be missed and it is therefore Al Hilal who will challenge the Brazilians of Flamengo in the semi-finals…
The compositions of Wydad-Al Hilal
Your starting lines for @WACofficiel and @AlHilal_FC are here! 🙌
Who’s heading to the #ClubWC Semi-finals?
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) February 4, 2023
