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CODM Meknès Clinch Hard-Fought 1-0 Victory Over UTS Rabat
CODM Meknès outlasted UTS Rabat 1-0 in a razor-tight Botola Pro regular season clash that saw the hosts dig deep to protect their slender lead under mounting second-half pressure.
Meknès Strike Early Then Weather the Storm
The decisive moment came in the first half as Meknès capitalised on Rabat’s nervy start, though the scorching afternoon sun seemed to stifle both sides’ attacking rhythms early on. Chances were scarce, but the home side made theirs count – their lone goal arriving before the break to send the Stade Boubker Ammar into raptures.
Rabat emerged transformed after the interval, piling forward with increasing desperation as Meknès dropped deeper, their backline organising into an impenetrable yellow wall. The visitors’ best opportunity came midway through the second half when a whipped cross evaded everyone in the six-yard box, skimming just wide of the far post as half the stadium gasped.
Rabat’s Frustration Boils Over
As the clock ticked past 80 minutes, Rabat’s tempers frayed. Two late yellow cards for reckless challenges told the story of their mounting exasperation, while Meknès’ time-wasting tactics drew ear-splitting whistles from the travelling supporters. The fourth official’s board showed five agonising added minutes, during which Rabat launched one final artillery barrage of long balls – but Meknès’ goalkeeper punched away the last desperate cross to seal three precious points.
What This Means for Botola Pro’s Early Season
For Meknès, this gritty victory represents a statement win early in the campaign – the kind of result that builds belief they can upset the established order. Captain Mehdi Naghmi marshalled his backline superbly, and the whole squad collapsed into exhausted celebrations at full-time.
Rabat will rue missed opportunities but showed enough in the second half to suggest they’ll bounce back. Their midfield trio dominated possession (58%) but couldn’t translate control into clear chances – a recurring issue they must address quickly in this marathon Botola Pro season.
