Les Lions de l'Atlas qualifiés haut la main, en route pour la phase finale de la CAN-2013

Les Lions de l'Atlas se sont qualifiés pour leur 15è Coupe d'Afrique des Nations (CAN) de football, après une victoire méritée (4-0) face au Mozambique, en match du 3è et dernier tour retour des éliminatoires, samedi soir au Grand stade de Marrakech.

Portés par des milliers de supporters marocains enthousiastes et complètement acquis à leur cause, les Lions de l'Atlas ont vengé leur défaite (2-0) à Maputo en match aller, au terme d'une bataille tactique où l'enjeu l'a emporté sur le jeu.

Pour sa première apparition sur le banc de touche de la sélection nationale, Rachid Taoussi a opté pour un schéma tactique offensif (4-2-3-1).

Dès l'entame de la partie, les Lions de l'Atlas se sont lancés dans l'attaque, créant plusieurs occasions, notamment à la 21è minute lorsque le capitaine Houcine Kharja a failli tromper le gardien de but Rafael Joaa.

Appelé pour la première fois en équipe nationale, Salahedine Akkal, sociétaire de l'AS FAR, a orchestré plusieurs montées en attaque délivrant parfois des balles très dangereuses, mais qui n'ont pas trouvé le chemin des filets.

Les Nationaux auraient pu ouvrir la marque à deux reprises (26è et 33è) mais ils ont pêché par manque de réalisme et d'efficacité.

La délivrance n'a pas tardé lorsque Abdelaziz Barrada (Getafe/Espagne) a repris de la tête un centre de Youssef Arabi pour placer le cuir au fond des filets (39è) faisant vibrer le public.

A la reprise, les joueurs marocains ont opté pour la conservation du ballon et le renforcement des compartiments défensifs et du milieu de terrain, tout en restant entreprenants en attaque, alors que les Mozambicains, gênés par le pressing du milieu marocain, ont éprouvé de grandes difficultés pour s'approcher de la surface des Lions de l'Atlas.

A la 62è minute, le virevoltant Abdelaziz Berrada obtient un pénalty après avoir été fauché en pleine surface de réparation par le capitaine des "Mambas" Hobo Almiro, expulsé sur le champ par l'arbitre camerounais Alioum Sidi (63è).

La mission a été confiée à Kharja qui a offert aux siens un deuxième but soulageant (64è).

Après cette réalisation, les joueurs mozambicains semblaient sérieusement touchés par la tournure des événements et voyaient la qualification s'envoler.

Ils jouaient sans conviction, commettaient plus d'erreurs de passe et leurs offensives étaient sans adresse.

Le deuxième but du Onze national a libéré les joueurs et les a poussé à se donner davantage pour sceller le sort de la qualification en leur faveur.

A la 85è minute, Youssel El Arabi parvient enfin à concrétiser une occasion de but, en inscrivant le 3è but après un centre du flanc gauche de Zakaria Bergdich.

Au temps additionnel (90+4è), Nordine Amrabet ajoute un 4è but qui provoque une ambiance indescriptible au stade et annihile les espoirs des Mozambicains de revenir dans la partie.

Cette qualification, tant attendue par un public marocain assoiffé de performances de son équipe nationale, redonnera sans doute confiance aux joueurs afin d'entrevoir la phase finale de la prochaine CAN (19 janvier-10 février en Afrique du Sud) sous de bons auspices.

Les Lions de l'Atlas disputeront pour la 15è fois de leur histoire la phase finale de la CAN après les éditions de 1972 (Cameroun), 1976 (Ethiopie), 1978 (Ghana), 1980 (Nigéria), 1986 (Egypte), 1988 (Maroc), 1992 (Sénégal), 1998 (Burkina Faso), 2000 (Ghana/Nigéria), 2002 (Mali), 2004 (Tunisie), 2006 (Egypte), 2008 (Ghana) et 2012 (Gabon/Guinée Equatoriale). Ils avaient remporté le titre en 1976 et perdu en finale (2-1) en 2004 face au pays hôte, la Tunisie.

De leur côté, les Mambas tentaient une 5è qualification après les éditions de 1986 (Egypte), 1996 (Afrique du Sud), 1998 (Burkina Faso) et 2010 (Angola) lors desquelles ils ont été éliminés au 1er tour.

Satisfaction pour Taoussi

Le nouveau sélectionneur du Maroc Rachid Taoussi pouvait s'estimer heureux après que son équipe ait réussi à retourner une situation mal embarquée contre le Mozambique.

Battus (0-2) à l'aller, les Lions de l'Atlas ont su renverser la vapeur en battant leur adversaire (4-0) au retour, ce qui leur permet de valider leur ticket pour la CAN. ''Je suis heureux, je remercie le public et les joueurs. Nous avons prouvé que nous avions du potentiel. J'ai un noyau, une équipe d'avenir. Sur le terrain, nous avons été bien organisés. Tactiquement, le milieu de terrain a fait son travail'' a-t-il déclaré après le match.

Messi, Ronaldo trade blows in 2-2 Clasico draw

Real Madrid failed to secure the victory they desperately needed to trim the gap to leaders Barcelona when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo each struck twice in an attritional 2-2 draw in La Liga on Sunday.

A stuttering start by the champions had left them eight points behind their great rivals after six matches but they made the better start to the 'Clasico' at an electric Nou Camp and Ronaldo fired them ahead deservedly in the 23rd minute.

A defensive lapse by Pepe let Messi in to equalise from close range eight minutes later before the Argentine World Player of the Year curled a stunning free kick past Iker Casillas to make it 2-1 in the 61st.

Real were level within five minutes when Mesut Ozil slid the ball through to Ronaldo and the Portuguese forward beat Victor Valdes for a second time with a powerful low strike.

Barca came close to a winner in an entertaining clash, watched by millions around the world, when substitute Martin Montoya crashed a long-range effort against the crossbar in the 89th minute.

Tigers edge Athletics for 2-0 series lead

Detroit Tigers Don Kelly Don Kelly hit a sacrifice fly to right-field in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 5-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday and a commanding 2-0 lead in their playoff series. Kelly's drive off A's closer Grant Balfour scored Omar Infante to cap a wild finish in which both teams scored late, game-tying runs on wild pitches after Detroit took a seventh-inning lead on a two-run error. Detroit reliever Al Alburquerque, who retired Yoenis Cespedes on a grounder with men on first and third in the ninth for the only batter he faced, took the win. The Australian Balfour got the loss. Detroit moved within one win of advancing to the American League Championship Series, with the best-of-five AL Division Series shifting to Oakland on Tuesday. "They (Detroit) got big hits and did good things at the right moments," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "Both teams made some mistakes that got the other team in the game." The clash between Central champions Detroit and West winners Oakland began as a pitchers' duel with Tigers' starter Doug Fister and his A's counterpart Tom Milone each allowing just one run through six innings. Cliff Pennington put Oakland on top with a run-scoring single off Fister in the top of the seventh. The Tigers struck back in their half of the seventh off reliever Sean Doolittle. With two outs, Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera came to the plate with men on first and second and hit a shallow fly ball to centre. Oakland outfielder Coco Crisp raced in, but the ball bounced out of his mitt and he bobbled it once more before it fell to the ground as Austin Jackson and Infante came around to score and put Detroit ahead 3-2. "They played deep and made the error," Cabrera said. "I feel sorry for him (Crisp). But you need the little things and to get lucky." Oakland leapfrogged the Tigers in the eighth when Cuban rookie Yoenis Cespedes singled, stole second and third before scoring on a wild pitch in the dirt from Detroit reliever Joaquin Benoit with Josh Reddick at bat. Reddick, who had struck out in all six of his previous at-bats in the series, promptly homered to right to give the A's a 4-3 lead. A wild pitch by Oakland reliever Ryan Cook with men on second and third and two outs allowed the Tigers to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. The A's stranded runners on first and third in the top of the ninth, with Alburquerque retiring Cespedes on a comeback grounder before Detroit ended it in their last at-bat.

Top seeds Azarenka, Sharapova set up China Open final

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus Russia's Maria Sharapova  World number one Victoria Azarenka set up a final date with Maria Sharapova at the China Open after the top two seeds enjoyed comprehensive victories in their semi-finals on Saturday. Sharapova blew away home favourite Li Na 6-4 6-0 before top seed Azarenka saw off the challenge from France's Marion Bartoli 6-4 6-2. Sharapova served three double faults to concede an early break to go 1-3 down in the first set against the Chinese number one Li but sailed through once she found her groove. "It was a really high quality first set with a few ups and downs, and obviously she had the lead in that set, but I came back," the Russian told reporters. "There were a few key moments to that set and after I broke her in the last game, it was important to take that momentum into the second set and keep going." Sharapova, who lost in the quarter-finals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo last week, was happy to be back in contention. "I came into this tournament not playing extremely well in Tokyo, and I had a couple of days of practice here," she said. "So I was hoping from the first round I'd really step it up and get better and I feel as the tournament has gone on I've been playing and moving better." Belarussian Azarenka, who withdrew before her quarter-final in Tokyo due to health issues, showed no signs of trouble as she powered past Bartoli. Azarenka last won a title in March when she beat Sharapova in Indian Wells while the Russian is seeking her first trophy since winning the French Open in June.

Marseille retain top spot despite Ibrahimovic

Andre-Pierre Gignac scored twice to help Olympique Marseille retain their Ligue 1 top spot on Sunday with a 2-2 home draw to second-placed Paris St Germain despite the best efforts of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Ibrahimovic was on target two times in three minutes midway through an entertaining first half after Gignac's solo effort had put the home side ahead in the 17th. The Swede equalised on 23 minutes with a stunning backheel volley from a corner then put PSG in front two minutes later when he fired a free kick home from 25 metres. Gignac answered in the 37th when he headed home a Benoit Cheyrou corner to keep Marseille at the top of the table on 19 points, three ahead of unbeaten PSG. PSG substitute Kevin Gameiro had the only clear-cut chance of a dull second half but his strike went wide. Former Arsenal striker Jeremy Aliadiere's goal ensured Lorient continued their unbeaten run with a 1-1 draw at home to Olympique Lyon, who stay third on 15 points. Lyon took the lead through France's Bafetimbi Gomis volley in the 23rd minute after a superb collective move. Lorient levelled the score two minutes after the break when Aliadiere tapped in Benjamin Corgnet's neat pass to take his side up to fourth in the table on 14 points. Both sides had a flurry of clear-cut chances in an action-packed clash at rainy Lorient. Lyon, who suffered their first league loss last weekend, were unlucky to see Gomis's half-volley and then a fine lob from Clement Grenier hit the woodwork early on. However, their efforts were rewarded when Alexandre Lacazette volleyed a Steed Malbranque cross to set up Gomis for the opener. Inspired by Aliadiere and Alain Traore, Lorient reacted but the latter's powerful shot from outside the box struck the woodwork. The hosts equalised just after the break and tightened their grip on play although they lacked a finishing touch. Along with PSG and Lorient, Girondins Bordeaux are the other team unbeaten after they recovered from a goal down to draw 1-1 at Stade Brest, their fifth in the last six league games, which put them sixth on 14 points. Well-organised Brest went ahead when Eden Ben Basat ran on behind the defence to shoot past keeper Cedric Carrasso in the 37th minute. Bordeaux wasted several chances and saw an early Cheick Diabate effort hit the post but the player netted a deserved equaliser midway through the second half.