Renaissance Berkane reached CAF Confederation Cup final on Monday by eliminating fellow Moroccan side Hassania Agadir.
In a match played at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Berkane stormed into the final for the second successive time in a row by beating Agadir 2-1.
Mohamed Aziz scored two penalties in each half that helped Berkane reach Sunday’s title-decider which will also be played behind closed doors after being delayed since May due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
A cagey clash between two of the best known clubs in Morocco was often scrappy and lacked rhythm with the referee constantly blowing for fouls.
Agadir had the first big chance in the 10th minute after Bakary Mane delivered an inviting cross to the far post but Ayoub El Mallouki’s close-range strike was saved on the line by Berkane goalkeeper Zouheir Laaroubi.
Mustapha Ouchrif’s charges gained momentum after that and came close to breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute after Youssef Al Fahli’s cross found Karim El Berkaoui, who headed over the crossbar.
Berkane were presented with a chance to open the scoring in the 20th minute when Mouhissine Yajour was brought down and Mohamed Aziz stepped up to convert from 12-yards out.
Agadir had a chance on the 25th minute after Amine Sadiki went clear on goal, but his attempted lob sailed over the crossbar with only Mallouki to beat.
HUSA eventually scored an equalizer on the 30th minute after Imad Kimaoui tapped into an empty net after their opponents failed to clear a long ball into their penalty area.
Kimaoui had an opportunity to extend Agadir’s lead shortly after the resumption. Mehdi Oubilla and Abdelkarim Baadi did good work down the left-hand side and the ball fell kindly to Kimaoui in the box, whose shot forced Laaroubi into making a diving save to his left.
In the 58th minute, Berkane striker Mouhcine Iajour got into a pocket of space and let fly forcing El Houasli into a smart diving save down to his left.
Two minutes later, Aziz converted the second penalty after Amine Sadiki handled inside the box as he attempted to cut out a cross from the right.
Imad Kimaoui nearly drew Agadir level in the 78th minute but the Moroccan forward managed to head over the crossbar from six-yards out.
HUSA pushed for the equalizer in the remaining stages but were let down by some poor finishing by Tamer Seyam, who squandered another headed chance in the 89th minute.
Berkane saw out the rest of the second half to reach the final for a second successive year after losing the 2019 decider to Zamalek of Egypt.
Berkane will hope to become the fifth Moroccan winners of the Confederation Cup after FAR Rabat (2005), FUS Rabat (2010), MAS Fes (2011) and Raja Casablanca (2018).
