Wydad Athletic Club Head Coach, Houcine Ammouta has attributed his team loss against Rivers United in the first leg of second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League to bad condition of host pitch, his players Wastefulness in front of goal and inaccurate officiating.
Rivers United took a lifeline for themselves nicking a 2-1 win at their Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium going into the second leg in Morocco although Houcine believes they were the better side despite the loss stating that one of the host goals shouldn’t have stood.
He said, “the first goal we scored by my position, I can not judge if it’s an offside, it’s only when we go back and watch the camera that’s when I can give judgement to that.
“But the first goal of Rivers United was in front of me, I can see clearly that the attacker used his hand on the ball.”
“My players were disturbed by the quality of the pitch and the cruelty of the sun, the field was unable to allow them play a good game, we created scoring opportunities but we never used them,” Houcine posited.
“I know my team held onto the ball and controlled the midfield, we were more dangerous in attack.”
“I believe we have a better opportunity in the game, we created host of scoring opportunities especially at the end of first half but the field didn’t help matters too. I believe when we go back to Casablanca, we are going to do much better and the result will be favorable.
“We are having the second match that’s going to be very interesting and we are going to prepare well for the match.”
“It’s better 2-1 than 3-1 cause our keeper made a lot of saves, this will help us consolidate on the away game at our home ground,” he confidently stated.
