Wydad Athletic Club secured an emphatic 3-1 win over Petro Atletico in their 1st leg CAF Champions League semi-final in Luanda on Saturday afternoon.
Petro came into the game in high spirits after shocking Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarter-final to book a place against the side they faced off in the group stages.
But the Botola Pro League leaders quickly brought them back down to earth with another exceptional away display with less than 40% possession.
This season’s leading goalscorer and inspirational captain Thiago Azulao who was the hero against Sundowns found the net first in the tie, but it was in his own net as a whipped free-kick from Yahia Attiyat Allah saw him try to clear the ball but his header flew straight past his own goalkeeper Wellington.
Wydad looked more assured after the opener with their skipper Yahya Jabrane in particular running the game at his own pace and it was no surprise to see him find the net with the form he’s been in of late.
The 30-year-old midfielder netted a stunner on the brink of half-time that flew into the top right corner and virtually took the wind out of Petro and their supporters who were silenced.
Guy Mbenza added a third after 68 minutes and the tactical acumen of Walid Regragui shone through once again which puts them one foot into the final despite Ricardo Job Estévão pulling one back in the 81st minute.
Alexandre Santos’ Petro need to score three unanswered goals in Casablanca – without William Soares who was sent off in stoppage time – next week to go through, where Wydad are unbeaten this season.
