Wydad Casablanca claimed the Casablanca derby bragging rights with a 2-1 win over Raja Casablanca in a 2022-23 Botola Pro 1 match at Mohamed V Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from and Ayman El Hassouni and Arsene Zola led the WAC to all three points and up to the top of the league standings, two points above second placed FAR Rabat.
Mohamed Nahiri scored what proved to be a late consolation for Raja Casablanca who remain 12th on the table.
After a nervy start by the two sides, Junior Sambou had an opportunity of opening the scoring in the 20th minute, but after doing all the hard work getting past the defenders, he could not place the ball in the back of the net.
Gabonese Axel Meye and Abdelraouf Benguit had half chances to score for the Rachid Taoussi led side, but they could not capitalize as Tagnouti and the defenders led by Zola, stood tall at the back.
Neither of the two sides could score a goal in the first 45 minutes, but it was Raja Casablanca who looked dangerous because the visitors employed a cautious approach.
Raja continued to knock on Tgagnaouti’s door and Sabbar went close moments later, but were ultimately left to rue their missed chances as Wydad hit the front in the 53rd minute.
A missed clearance from Raja defenders fell on the path of El-Hassouni who placed a beautiful strike past Raja goalkeeper Anas Zniti.
Harkass delivered a lovely cross into Wydad box, then Bouzok rose high above the defence with a fine header, but once again Tagnaouti kept the score sheet clean with yet another fine save.
Wydad continued to ride their luck and punished the Green Eagles in the 80th minute as Arsene Zola doubled their lead from close range.
Raja halved the deficit nine minutes later from the spot after a VAR review showed one of the defenders handled the ball from the area.
Mohamed Nahiri steeped up and sent the ball into the right hand side past the Morocco international goalkeeper Tagnouti to set up a nervy finish but Wydad held on for a third straight win in this fixture.
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