Raja Casablanca beat KSA’s Al-Ittihad on penalties to win remarkable Arab Club Champions Cup final

Raja Casablanca players celebrate winning the 2020 Arab Club Champions Cup after defeating Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad 4-3 on penalties. (Arriyadiyah)
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Updated 22 August 2021
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Raja Casablanca beat KSA’s Al-Ittihad on penalties to win remarkable Arab Club Champions Cup final

  • Moroccan team won shootout 4-3 after normal time finished 4-4 at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat

Raja Casablanca of Morocco has won the much-delayed final of the 2020 Arab Club Champions Cup after defeating Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad 4-3 on penalties at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

The final of the competition, also known as the Mohammed VI Champions Cup, went straight into a shootout, without extra time, after the two teams had played out an astonishing 4-4 draw in 90 minutes.

Al-Ittihad flew out of the blocks by taking a fourth-minute lead through Bruno Henrique, but Ilias Haddad equalized for Raja only a minute later.

Mahmoud Benhalib then put Raja 2-1 ahead with only 13 minutes on the clock, before Romarinho tied for Al-Ittihad in the 28th minute from the penalty spot. It would not be the last of the night.

Zakaria El-Wardi scored for Raja eight minutes before the break to give the Moroccans a remarkable 3-2 lead at the break.

The second half would prove just as dramatic. Sofiane Rahimi scored Raja’s fourth goal in the 50th minute, and for the first time on the night one of the teams had taken a two-goal lead. It would not be enough, however.

Romarinho replied almost immediately for the Jeddah club, halving the deficit in the 53rd minute to make the score 4-3.

The Brazilian then completed his hat-trick with his second penalty of the night to make it 4-4 in the 64th minute from a penalty kick.

Surprisingly, considering what had gone on before, there would be no more scoring for the rest of the match.

In the penalty shootout, Raja’s Rahimi, Muhammad Zrida, Abdelilah Hafidi and Omar Arjoun scored while Abdelilah Madkour missed.

Al-Ittihad’s Romarinho, Igor Coronado and Abdullelah Al-Malki converted while Bruno Henrique and Fahad Al-Muwallad missed, handing Raja the title.

The result denied the Saudi club what would have been the second win of the competition, having beaten Club Sportif Sfaxien of Tunisia 2-0 in the 2004-05 final.


Rabiot double lifts Milan after early scare at Como

Updated 16 January 2026
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Rabiot double lifts Milan after early scare at Como

  • Milan are second in the standings on 43 points, three behind rivals Inter Milan and three clear of Napoli in third, while Como are sixth with 34 points

COMO, Italy: AC Milan came from behind to earn a 3-1 victory at Como on Thursday, with Adrien Rabiot scoring twice to keep the away side in the Serie ​A title race.
Milan are second in the standings on 43 points, three behind rivals Inter Milan and three clear of Napoli in third, while Como are sixth with 34 points.
Como made the brighter start and took the lead after 10 minutes when Marc-Oliver Kempf rose to head home a corner.
Despite the hosts controlling much of the first half, Milan struck ‌in stoppage ‌time as Christopher Nkunku calmly converted ‌from ⁠the ​penalty spot ‌after Kempf was penalized for pushing Rabiot.
Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan produced a series of strong saves to keep Como at bay after the break before Milan took the lead in the 55th minute when Rabiot knocked the ball in from close range.
Como were denied an equalizer as Nico Paz saw his effort from outside ⁠the box crash against the crossbar. Milan then sealed the win two minutes ‌from time when Rabiot caught the Como ‍defense off guard with a ‍low strike from distance that crept into the bottom corner.
“This ‍was a team victory, we showed our mentality,” Rabiot told DAZN after being named Man of the Match.
“We suffered a lot in the first half, but we talked during the break, came out with ​a different mentality, we all came out fighting for the three points.
“We gave something extra and I am ⁠very happy to score two goals, obviously, but above all I’m pleased with the mentality of the team.”
While Rabiot provided the goals, another Frenchman, goalkeeper Maignan, made his mark with a string of crucial saves.
“We knew that playing here would be difficult, we were well-prepared. We started a little sluggish and they scored, but we managed to keep the game open, and then all together started to play as a team,” Maignan said.
“We know these are great nights for Milan with an atmosphere like this. ‌We suffered, we used up a lot of energy and left it all on the field.”