Kaizer Chiefs lost 2-0 to Raja Casablanca in the second leg of the CAF Champions League’s first round at Casablanca’s Stade Mohammed V in Morocco. The Nigerian striker Ighodaro Osaguona scored both goals for the home side.

As a result of this loss, Amakhosi are out of the CAF Champions League.

Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter fielded a strong line-up, despite being without Siphiwe Tshabalala who has been struggling with dental problems.

Matthew Rusike partnered Bernard Parker upfront, while Morgan Gould replaced Erick Mathoho, who was given a break due to his international commitments with Bafana Bafana.

Chiefs started the game with a disadvantage after losing the home game 1-0 in Durban.

As expected, Raja’s home crowd came in full force behind their team with loud singing and some ferocious drumming.

Amakhosi, however, competed well, even getting a few times into the Raja-box and the defence looked able to absorb well the pressure of the home side’s attacking moves.

Gould and Tefu Mashamaite formed a reliable couple in the centre of defence, while Willard Katsande and Reneilwe Letsholonyane did a sterling job in central midfield.

Chiefs didn’t create any real chances, but neither did the home side.

A set-back, however, arrived just before halftime when the injured Gould had to be replaced by Mathoho.

The teams went into the break without any goals being scored. This was probably a positive for Chiefs, as a goal in the second half could make the game really interesting.

George Lebese got a chance early in the second half, but it didn’t result in the much needed goal.

Still, the game started to open up and Chiefs found ways to get more into Raja’s half than during the first 45 minutes.

The Raja supporters, meanwhile, kept on singing and drumming. After darkness fell in, this was even accompanied with cell phone lights which created an atmospheric ambiance in the stadium.

Another slight chance came Amakhosi’s way when the ball landed in front of Mathoho in Raja’s box. However, from, admittingly, a difficult position, he hoofed the ball over the crossbar.

The game was maybe not great from a purely quality point of view, but from it was highly competitive.

Mandla Masango got about fifteen minutes before the end of the game what was probably until then the best chance of the game, right in front of the Raja goalkeeper. But the speedy winger just needed a bit too much time on the ball to put the ball into the back of the net.

Amakhosi really went for the goal in the dying minutes of the game, but the ball just didn’t want to fall correctly.

To make things worse, Raja scored on a counter-attack via their striker Ighodaro after a mistake in the Chiefs defence. The Nigerian even added another goal about five minutes later.

However, it was a courageous performance from the Amakhosi, despite the two goals conceded late in the game.

Amakhosi’s next league game will be at home against AmaZulu at Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium on Thursday, 9 March.

Raja Casablanca (0) 2 (Ighodaro 88’, 94’)

Kaizer Chiefs 0

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Gaxa, Mashamaite, Gould (Mathoho 44’), Masilela (Moleko 46’), Masango (Mthembu 91’), Katsande, Letsholonyane, Lebese, Parker, Rusike

Raja Casablanca: El Allouch, Karrouchy, Jbira, Oulhaj, Belmkadem, Issine (Hafidi 58’), Guehi, Vivien (Sabbar 84’), Bemammer, Salhi (Aqqal 88’), Ighodaro