Stars, Raja battle to a draw

AFRICAN Stars and Raja Casablanca battled it out to a 1-1 draw in their Caf Confederations Cup match at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Alfeus Handura gave Stars the lead with a great shot shortly before halftime, but Raja soon struck back as Soufiane Rahimi equalised three minutes into the second half.

Stars pushed hard for the winner in the final stages, but Raja managed to hang on for a valuable point that they will now take into the return leg in Casablanca in a week’s time.

There wasn’t much action in the first half with Raja content to pass the ball around at the back and launch the odd long ball attack, although Zakaria Hadraf and Abdelilah Hafidi put in some strong attacks.

At the other end Stars rarely threatened Raja’s defence and Stars striker Roger Katjiteo was brought off due to an injury after 30 minutes and replaced by Panduleni Nekundi.

The match finally came to life with a great goal by Handura on 39 minutes when he received a pass from Crispin Mbewe from the left wing and fired a shot into the left hand corner.

Raja equalised early in the second half when they caught Stars’ defence sleeping with Mahmoud Benhalib sending in a cross from the right and an unmarked Rahimi tapped the ball into the net at the far post.

Stars’ keeper Ratanda Mbazuvara brought off a great diving save to deny Hafidi, but spurred on by their battling captain Ronald Ketjijere, more chances started coming Stars’ way.

Ambrosius Amseb sent in some inviting crosses from the left wing while Nekundi was a handful with his constant pressure.

Nekundi and another substitute Gustav Isaak both had shots blocked in the final stages, while Mbazuvara did well to save from Iajour Mouhssine in a rare Raja attack just before full time.