Caf Champions League: Kaizer Chiefs Snatch First Leg Win Over Wydad |Sbk Sports Mail

Kaizer Chiefs boosted their hopes of winning the 2020/21 Caf Champions League title by securing a 1-0 win over Wydad Casablanca in the semi-final first-leg match on Saturday night.

Samir Nurkovic was the hero for Amakhosi as his first-half goal inspired the South African football powerhouse to a narrow win over the Moroccan giants in a game which was played at Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca.

Chiefs made three changes from the win over TS Galaxy, as Siyabonga Ngezana, Yagan Sasman and Njabulo Blom were recalled while shot-stopper Itumeleng Khune was not in the matchday squad despite travelling with the team.

With Lebogang Manyama unavailable, Samir Nurkovic and Leonardo Castro continued to lead the line for Chiefs who also gave full-back Yagan Sasman a start in defence.

Wydad made all the running straight after the kick-off and enjoyed an overwhelming share of possession.

They managed to take play up to the opposition penalty area several times in the first half but failed to exploit the goalscoring chances that came their way. Wydad’s parting shots were mostly wayward, but Chiefs’ defence also worked hard to ensure they did not have much time on the ball in the striking zone.

The Red Castle were targeting nothing but a win at home having extended their unbeaten run to 12 competitive matches when they drew 0-0 with Renaissance Zemamra in the Moroccan Botola League match on Wednesday whilst the Amakhosi’s intentions were clear from the onset after naming only three attackers on the line-up, after absorbing the pressure and only looking for chances on the break, frustrating Wydad in the early stages.

Chiefs were under siege from the first whistle as they were bombarded with waves of attacks from Wydad, who were searching for an early goal in order to unsettle the visitors’ defence.

Ounajem’s powerful shot was well-saved by goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma, who then produced a world-class save to keep out Muaid Ellafi’s free header as pressure mounted on the Amakhosi’s backline.

However, the Red Castle were left to rue their missed opportunities as the visitors took a 1-0 lead against the run of play when Blom played a clever pass for Samir Nurkovic, who scored with a first time shot in the 34th minute, with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) overluling the linesman’s initial offside call.

The hosts tried to respond with a goal, but Bvuma, who was in top form on the night, made two smart saves to deny Wydad’s troublesome duo of Ounajem and Ellafi and the score was 1-0 to Chiefs at the interval.

In the second half, Wydad again enjoyed a glut of possession. However, Chiefs were content to soak up the pressure and protect their slender 1-0 lead. Chiefs’ central defence was particularly effective and checked several threatening sorties around the fringes of the penalty area.

Wydad continued to dominate the game after the restart, but they were frustrated by Bvuma’s great goalkeeping and they were also wasteful in front of goal.

The Bafana Bafana international blocked shots from Walid El Karti and El Kaabi after the Chiefs defence was exposed, before an effort from Yahya Jabrane went inches wide of Bvuma’s left upright.

Zwane and Sheppard, who were in charge of the team in the absence of head coach Stuart Baxter, decided to pull out Blom and introduce Kearyn Baccus as they refreshed the midfield with 17 minutes left.

Wydad, the 2017 winners, ended the match with a massive 80% possession advantage and an overwhelming 26-1 shots count but were restricted to long-range shots in the closing stages of the game as Bvuma made a comfortable save from Aymane Hassouni’s attempt from distance and ultimately, Chiefs ran out 1-0 winners over Wydad.

Chiefs are now set to play host to Wydad in the second-leg encounter at FNB Stadium next week Saturday and the Soweto giants will be banking on their home ground advantage in the second-leg encounter as they look to reach the final for the first time