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Raja Casablanca take advantage at home soil

FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2013

FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2013

FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2013 hosts Raja Casablanca have advanced to the semifinals of the competition with a 2-1 win against CF Monterrey in the last quarterfinal on Saturday.

Raja Casablanca enjoyed great support at the Agadir Stadium, when they took on the the Mexican side who qualified for the tournament after winning the CONCACAF Champions League.

Moroccan international Chemseddine Chtibi opened the scoresheet for the hosts in the 24th minute, which gave Raja Casablanca a 1-0 lead half-time. But CF Monterrey levelled the score in the 53rd minute, when Jose Maria Basanta put the ball past Askri to make it 1-1.

The score line remained 1-1 till the end of the regulation time and the match needed an extra-time to find a winner. Raja’s Ivorian midfielder Kouko Guehi finally found the back of the net in the 95th minute to the delight of the partisan home crowd. Guehi’s goal secured his side a 2-1 win against the visitors.

Raja Casablanca will now take on Copa Libertadores champions Clube Atlético Mineiro in the second semifinal of the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2013 on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Guangzhou Evergrande FC defeated Al Ahly SC 2-0 in the other quarterfinal earlier on Saturday [+ read more]. The Chinese side will face UEFA Champions League winners FC Bayern Munich in the first semifinal on Tuesday.