Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – AS FAR Rabat were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Egypt’s Pyramids FC on Friday night at the Stade Olympique in Rabat in the first leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final.
The Moroccan side made a better start and did not need long to go ahead. In the 8th minute, Ahmed Hammoudan opened the scoring after a good move from the left.
Set up by Zin-Eddine Derrag, he cut inside and beat the goalkeeper with a right-footed strike into the roof of the net.
It was the kind of start FAR wanted, but they could not build on it.
Pyramids slowly grew into the match and began looking more dangerous, especially from dead-ball situations.
FAR still had their moments, but the game became more tense and more balanced as it went on.
The visitors got their goal early in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Mahmoud Zalaka was in the right place inside the box to turn the ball in from close range after a corner. FAR’s lead was gone, and from that point, the match became much more cautious.
View this post on Instagram
Neither side wanted to make the mistake that could change the tie before the return leg. FAR pushed forward in search of a second goal, but Pyramids stayed organized at the back and did enough to leave Rabat with a draw.
FAR were not coming into the game in the easiest conditions either. The match was played behind closed doors after CAF sanctioned the club over incidents in its previous Champions League game against Al Ahly.
That meant no crowd, no pressure from the stands, and none of the energy the team usually gets at home.
Alexandre Santos was also missing the team’s captain, Mohamed Rabie Hrimat, who was suspended after being shown a red card. His absence was noticeable in midfield, where FAR sometimes lacked control.
So nothing is decided yet.
The second leg will be played in Cairo on March 21 at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium, with kickoff set for 4 p.m.
