The Moroccan team snatched a difficult and valuable draw against its host DR Congo 1-1 on Friday at the “Al-Shuhada” stadium in Kinshasa, in the first leg of their clash in the decisive third round of the African qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Yuan Wesa opened the scoring for the “Panthers” (12), and substitute Tariq Tisoudali equalized for the “Atlas Lions” (77).
The match witnessed a penalty kick missed by the Moroccan team in the first half, and a sending-off in the ranks of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the second half.
The two teams will meet again next Tuesday at the “Mohammed V” stadium in the economic capital of Morocco, Casablanca, where the preference will be relative to the “Atlas Lions”, as they need to draw a negative or win any result to reserve their place in the Qatar finals, and qualify for the international football wedding for the sixth time in its history. .
The Moroccan team had previously qualified for the World Cup in 1970, 1986, when it reached the second round before being eliminated by Germany, 1994, 1998 and 2018.
As for the Democratic Republic of Congo, it needs to win exclusively to qualify for the second time in its history, after it fought in the 1974 World Cup in Germany under the name Zaire.
This is the second tie in the four confrontations historically between the two teams, with each winning on one occasion.
The Bosnian-French coach of Morocco, Vahid Halilhodzic, started the match with a cautious squad, as he included three defenders, Roman Sais, Sami Mayi and Nayef Akrad, along with full-backs Ashraf Hakimi and Adam Masina, who had tasks in the attacking escort to support the duo, the Hungarian player Franzváros, Ryan Mayi and the top scorer of Seville. Spaniard Youssef Al-Nusairi.
On the other hand, Argentine coach Hector Cuper, coach of the “Panthers” team, relied on French Marseille player, captain Cedric Bakambu, and Kuwaiti player Diomercy Mbokani in attack, with the support of the midfield led by Watford’s English player Ado Kayembe.
After the match, Halilhodzic saw that his players gave a strong performance, especially in the second half.
“We started the match well, but the team shook and lost focus and the ball after the Congolese team opened the scoring,” he said.
He added, “We still have the return leg and we have not qualified yet. A more difficult match awaits us in Casablanca, where the opponent team, which confirmed that it is difficult to manage, should not be underestimated, and therefore we must present a big match to achieve qualification.”
The coach congratulated the players on their performance, saying, “We achieved a positive result, but a difficult battle awaits us in Morocco, and the meeting will not be easy.”
The Moroccan team began pressing both sides, although its players were affected by the artificial turf pitch, but the defense of the host team removed the danger in front of goalkeeper Joel Kiasumbua.
From the first organized attack, the English Brentford midfielder Wesa opened the scoring for the owners of the land with a powerful arched shot from outside the penalty area after a evasive break, deceived Seville goalkeeper Yassin Bono and settled in his net (12).
Bono saved a dangerous opportunity for the Congolese when Bakambu hit the ball after a cross from Wessa (29).
The Moroccans found it difficult to penetrate the Congolese blocs in the middle of the field or in defense, despite their control on the field. Al-Nusairi’s header passed to the side of the goal after a cross from Hakimi (44).
And Wesa almost doubled the progress of his country when he broke through and hit the left post (48), at the first opportunity in the second half.
The first Moroccan chance came through Mayi’s header, which was blocked by the Congolese goalkeeper (52).
From a corner kick, the South African referee, Victor Gomes, awarded a penalty kick after a handball on Cedric Bakambu, Mayi threw it over the goal (54).
The Moroccan team seemed better than the first half, with the movements of the midfield led by Sofiat Amrabet and Salim Amlah, and Hakimi almost equalized, but his dangerous header passed along the left post (64).
Cuper revitalized his offensive line after Yannick Polazzi and former Moroccan Raja and current Sharjah player Ben Malango entered in the hope of kidnapping the second goal, and the same thing was done by Halilhodzic, who pushed the offensive duo of Turkish Hatay Sport Ayoub Al Kaabi and Ghent player Tariq Tesodale instead of Al-Nusairi and May (71).
The Moroccan changes had an actual impact, as Adam Masina led an attack and passed a front longitudinal ball that was prepared by Al Kaabi, who was not offside, with his head back to Tisudale, who equalized with a powerful shot from the outskirts of the area “on the bird” in the left scissors of the Congolese goal (77).
This is the first international goal of Tisodali with the Moroccan national team in the third match with the “Atlas Lions”.
Bono shined again in front of Bakambu’s header (80). The host team continued the match with ten players after Glodi Ngonda was sent off for receiving a second warning after a harsh intervention on Hakimi (86).
The “Atlas Lions” tried to exploit the numerical superiority, with the Congolese players retreating to the defense, so that the decision was postponed to the Casablanca match.