Mamelodi Sundowns require only a draw to secure their position in the knockout stages of the CAF Champions League, after a 1-1 stalemate between FAR Rabat and Raja Casablanca at Stade d’Honneur in Miknâs on Saturday.
This outcome guarantees that Sundowns, currently in second place in Group B with eight points from five matches, can only be surpassed by Raja (third) or AS Maniema Union (last) in the final group match if either manages to win against the Congolese team.
With FAR Rabat and Sundowns occupying the top two spots in the group, the forthcoming fixture between them will establish who claims the group title.
Sundowns will welcome Rabat to Loftus Stadium next Sunday. A victory for Sundowns will lock in the top position in the group, which will allow them to host the second leg of the quarter-finals in South Africa.
The Moroccan Derby initially looked set for a goalless conclusion. However, in the 40th minute, an accidental own goal by Raja’s goalkeeper Anas Zniti from a corner kick gave FAR Rabat the lead.
In the second half, the match remained uneventful until the 77th minute when Raja was awarded a penalty. Naoufel Zerhouni converted it successfully, putting the ball past Zniti to equalize the score.
Despite both teams generating chances towards the end of the game, the score did not change, confirming that a draw between Sundowns and Rabat will see both teams advance to the knockout stages.
Sundowns achieved a vital victory earlier on Saturday, with Namibian forward Peter Shalulile scoring two late goals to defeat Maniema Union in Kinshasa.
Shalulile, who had recently been replaced by Iqraam Rayners in the starting lineup, came off the bench to score both goals. However, it appears that his second goal could have been deflected into the net by a Maniema player, possibly making it an own goal.
