Defending champion confirms its start.. and Wydad regains its balance in Morocco
Amman4 min read
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Maghreb Fes confirmed its perfect start in defending its title with a valuable 2-1 away win over Hassania Agadir, Wydad Casablanca regained its balance with a well-deserved 2-0 away victory over Difaa Hassani El Jadidi, while the newly promoted Amal Tiznit achieved an unprecedented win by beating hosts FUS Rabat 1-0 in the second round of the Moroccan Football League.
For the second consecutive round, Moroccan fans were deprived of a fiery blockbuster as the match between Nahdet Berkane, last season's runner-up, and fourth-placed AS FAR was postponed due to the commitment of three players from the former with their national teams during the international break.
The first round had witnessed the postponement of the El Clásico between AS FAR and its guest Raja Casablanca for the same reason.
Maghreb Fes, in its new look under the leadership of Portuguese coach Rui Almeida—successor to Spanish coach Pablo Franco, who moved to coach Esperance of Tunisia after leading Maghreb Fes last season to the fifth league title in its history and its first since 1985—confirmed its readiness to defend its crown with an away win roughly 750 km from home.
Maghreb Fes, which lost the services of last season's top scorer Soufiane Benjdida who moved to Egypt's Al Ahly, settled its encounter with southern representative Hassania Agadir in the first half through goals by Anas El Mehraoui (27) and South African Ciesgotvatsuo Mabasa (39 pen.).
El Mehraoui and Mabasa had scored the winning goals against Nahdat Zemamra (2-1) in the first round.
Imad El Riyahi (56 pen.) narrowed the deficit for Hassania Agadir without avoiding his team's first defeat this season.
Union Touarga followed the champion's lead by achieving its second consecutive victory when it defeated its newly promoted neighbor Wydad Temara 1-0.
Wydad Temara had pulled off a massive upset with an unprecedented win against hosts Wydad Casablanca (3-1) in its very first appearance in the top-flight league in its history.
Unprecedented win
Wydad Casablanca regained its balance with a valuable 2-0 away win over Difaa Hassani El Jadidi, saving the job of its Portuguese coach Paulo Sergio Brito, who faced heavy criticism following the defeat against Wydad Temara in the first round, with fans demanding his dismissal.
The club with the most league titles (22 times) signed the former coach of Saudi clubs Al-Taawoun and Al-Akhdoud, as well as Fujairah, to restore the team's prestige and regain its standing in the CAF Champions League, which it has won three times, after a disappointing fifth-place finish last season.
However, the defeat against Wydad Temara sparked fan outrage, especially after strengthening the squad with 13 players across various positions.
Press reports stated that Wydad will submit a protest to the Disciplinary Committee due to Wydad Temara fielding a player who was suspended for 4 matches when he was playing for the AS FAR reserve team before his transfer to the newly promoted club.
In contrast, Difaa El Jadida fans vented their anger at club officials following their second consecutive home defeat, after the initial 2-6 loss to COD Meknès in the first round.
Raja Casablanca, Wydad's traditional rival, began its league campaign with a hard-fought victory over visiting Nahdat Zemamra by a single goal scored by its midfielder Othman El Chraibi in the 27th minute.
Amal Tiznit achieved the first win in the history of its participation in the league by defeating hosts FUS Rabat with a single goal scored by Zakaria El Salhi in the 57th minute.
Kawkab Marrakech achieved its first win this season by defeating its host, COD Meknès, 1-0.
The northern derby between neighbors Ittihad Tanger and Moghreb Tétouan ended in a 1-1 draw.
