MATCH REPORT

In another thrilling Group 2 match, Saudi Arabian giants Al-Nassr managed to overcome Raja Casablanca of Morocco, consigning them to missing the finals, despite an odd on-field incident in which their injured goalkeeper refused to be substituted and a major blunder by his eventual replacement. Mohammed Babkr suffered a concussion after a collison with a defender but refused to leave the pitch. After collapsing 3 times he was led off by teammates under protest but then ran up and down the touchline shouting angrily. His replacement was Mahdi Al Dosari.

Al-Nassr were ahead after 10 minutes after a goal by Fuad Al Amin, a shot which slipped through Mustapha Chadili's fingers. The score was levelled by a free kick from Omar Nejjary which slipped through Babkr's legs, and after the Babkr incident the teams went into half-time level. In the second half Al-Nassr scored twice in two minutes, goals by Ahmed Bahja and Fahad Al-Husseini, to achieve a seemingly unattainable lead, but less than 2 minutes later Bouchaib El Moubarki scored one more for Raja to take the score to 2 - 3. Then, in the 73rd minute, defender Talal El Karkouri took a shot from near the halfway line. Incredibly, the ball slipped through Al Dosari's hands and into the net to level the scores. But after Youssef Safri's dismissal, Raja found it hard to contain the Saudi's and with 5 minutes to go new signing Moussa Saib made Al-Nassr's 4th goal and effectively sealed the match.

With no points from 2 games, Raja are unable to make it to the finals. Their last game, against Real Madrid, will only be played for pride. Al-Nassr, however, are in 3rd place in the table and can still qualify if they beat Corinthians on Monday and Real draw or lose to raja.