Football
Antonin Panenka resurfaced
in the shape of a Moroccan – Youssef El Gnaoui - on Friday night in Rabat to
leave pain and gnashing of teeth in his wake as Nigerian side, Rivers United FC
bowed out of the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup with a whimper.
United needed to win at a
rocking Stade du FUS (Hay Nahda, Rabat) but started on the back foot with the
North Africans pushing and probing in search of an early goal.
They almost got it in the
fourth minute when El Gnaoui forced a brilliant save off the Rivers United
goalkeeper, Abiodun Akande who would go on to have a barn storming game.
Three minutes later,
United were reeling again as Ifeanyi Nweke rallied to produce a goal line
clearance before Akande evoked memories of former Colombia international
maverick goalkeeper, Rene Higuita by heading away a dangerous free kick.
FUS continued to dominate
but profligacy coupled with an Akande in inspired form, kept the former Botola
Pro champions at bay.
There is a maxim in
football which buttresses a point about paying the price when you fail to
convert numerous opportunities and it was ruthlessly displayed when United
scored with their first real opening of the game.
Nweke’s opportunistic
cross into the FUS box was flapped at by goalkeeper, Aymane Majid and the loose
ball fell towards the path of poacher, Bolaji Sakin.
The big striker could not
believe his luck as he calmly took aim and curled the ball into the far corner
to give the ‘Pride of Rivers’ a fortuitous lead.
It was a horrible time to
concede but to their credit, FUS did not panic; they stayed true to their
ideals and philosophy; playing their passing game which soon led to ultimate
punishment for the Port Harcourt club in a high octane second half.
Youssef El Gnaoui tapped
into an unguarded net from close range in the 52nd minute following good work
by El Mehdi El Bassil after Bernard Ovoke unsuccessfully tried to dribble his
way from the back.
The Moroccans struck the
final nail into the Rivers United coffin with just two minutes remaining on the
clock when Mohammed Fouzair converted a penalty – ala Panenka- after Festus
Austine needlessly handled the ball in the box.
It was a richly deserved victory
for the Moroccans who dominated and were denied on two occasions by goal line
clearances from Nweke and Joseph Douhadji.
The Rivers United
goalkeeper, Abiodun Akande was his side’s best performer on the day as he
produced a series of top class save to help keep the eventual result
respectable.
Technical manager of
Rivers United, Stanley Eguma and his counterpart from FUS Rabat, Hoalid
Regragui gave their thoughts about the game in a post-match press conference.
Rivers United finished
bottom of Group A with six points from six matches while KCCA finished in third
place with nine points after losing 0-4 in Tunis to the eventual table toppers,
Club Africain.
United and KCCA thus crash
out of the competition at the group stage while the two North Africans march
on.
FUS Rabat qualified for
the quarter finals after finishing in second place with nine points from six
matches.
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