By Andrew Warshaw
December 18 – Moroccan football is celebrating its greatest ever club triumph after little-known domestic champions Raja Casablanca upset Ronaldinho’s mighty Atletico Mineiro to reach Saturday’s final of the Club World Cup.
The hosts’ 3-1 win in Marrakech stunned the Copa Libertadores holders who looked certain to end Raja’s hopes after Ronaldinho equalised with a trademark stunning freekick, only for his team to concede two late goals against the run of play, Mohsine Moutouali converting a penalty and Vianney Madibe making the game safe to spark wild scenes of celebration.
Raja’s victory will go a long way to cementing the credibility of the Club World Cup that features the club champions of each confederation, a tournament still in its infancy its current guise in terms of international stature but one which FIFA views as an important part of the calendar.
As expected, Raja’s opponents on Saturday are European champions Bayern Munich who swept aside China’s Guangzhou Evergrande FC 3-0 thanks to goals from Franck Ribéry, Mario Mandžukić and Mario Götze.
The final will be only the second since the tournament switched format in 2005 that will not be between South American and European adversaries.
“Who would have believed we would come to this,” said jubilant Raja coach Faouzi Benzarti whose players mobbed Ronaldinho at the final whistle to compete for keeping his shirt as a memento.
By contrast, the Brazilians were totally shell-shocked. “We are all ashamed,” Atletico coach Cuca told reporters. “There are so many fans who stopped at nothing to come here, humble people who saved up for years and we frustrated their dreams. This was the most important game of the season for us.”
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