FAR maintains lead in Moroccan league

2007-11-22

Round seven of the Moroccan premier league saw a number of fierce matches but no changes at the top of the standings.

By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat – 22/11/07

[File] FAR Rabat still leads the league standings.

FAR Rabat defeated MA Tetouan 5-3 last Friday (November 16th) in a challenging match in the seventh round of Morocco's top league football tournament. FAR's Issam Erraki opened scoring in the 19th minute, but a response came from Tetouan via Mohamed Kabli just four minutes later. Abderrazak Lamnasfi scored again for Tetouan, angering FAR coach Mustapha Madih, but star player Jawad Ouadouch retaliated with two more goals in the 52nd and 62nd minutes.

Olympique Khouribga hosted Ittihad Zemmouri de Khemisset on Saturday in a bitter match that ended in a goalless draw. Neither team was able to make it through the other's defence to create scoring opportunities.

In another goalless match on Saturday, KAC Kenitra hosted CODM Meknes. Kenitra held a strong advantage in possession, but was unable to convert its dominance into goals.

Speaking after the match, Kenitra striker Mohamed Zaaboul said "Frankly, we were looking at victory, but we are happy with the tie point that we secured, and I hope that our fans will continue supporting us."

Driss Souite of CODM Meknes said, "We achieved the most important thing – a tie – although we are not comfortable with it."

A brutal home game for Olympique Safi ended in a 2-2 tie against Jeunesse El Massira on Sunday. The hosts made several shots on goal early in the match, but failed to score until early in the second half when Faouzi Abdelghani capitalized on an opportunity created when a guest defender tripped on the pitch.

El Massira retaliated in the 73rd minute with a goal by Mehdi Nemli, following a bad toss from Safi's goalkeeper. Messira's Chafik scored on a penalty kick in the 92nd minute, but the hosts tied the score when Adil Hliouate made the most of a gap in Olympique's defence.

Also on Sunday, Wydad Casablanca crushed guests Mouloudia Oujda 4–1. Oujda scored three minutes after kickoff, but Wydad was quick to respond with a goal by Abdessamad in the ninth minute, assisted by a pass from teammate Sekkat. Abdessamad scored again in the 22nd minute after Mouloudia's goalkeeper saved a penalty kick. Wydad's Hicham Louissi scored a third goal from another penalty kick in the 91st minute and Abderrahim Saidi added a fourth goal in the 94th minute.

Difaa El Jadida (DHJ) played FUS Rabat in the capital, Sunday. FUS Rabat have suffered a series of consecutive defeats that led to the dismissal of Coach Rachid Taoussi last week. FUS opened scoring in the sixth minute, raising their fans' hopes, but DHJ kept pressure on the hosts and scored two goals.

Meanwhile, Hassania Agadir crushed their guests Kawkab Marrakech 4-0. Marrakech's Mahdi Kharmaj mistakenly scored against his own team. Then, in the 40th minute, Azzedine Hissa scored Agadir's second goal on a header, while Ahmed Fatihi scored the third in the 45th minute. Youssef Agnaou added the fourth and final goal.