Morocco's Raja Casablanca moved to within touching distance of their first continental crown since 2003 after a double from Soufiane Rahimi gave them a comfortable 3-0 home win over DR Congo's Vita Club in the first leg of the African Confederation Cup final on Sunday. Mahmoud Benhalib was also on target as Raja scored all three goals in the second half to cap a dominant display, with the visitors unable to weather relentless pressure. Vita Club also had to play with 10 men for more than 25 minutes after Yannick Litombo was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Raja will be firm favorites to win their first African title since their 2003 CAF Cup triumph when they face Vita Club next Sunday in Kinshasa. Raja spurned several clear-cut chances in the first half but made amends in the second to open the floodgates. Rahimi finished off a brilliant move to break the deadlock in the 47th minute, collecting a back-heel pass Benhalib and holding off a tame challenge from the keeper to slot home with aplomb and send the home fans into ecstasy. He added the second just past the hour mark, firing a low shot home from the edge of the area. Things went from bad to worse for Vita Club on 66 minutes when Litombo clumsily pushed an opponent to receive his marching orders, with Benhalib dispatching the resulting penalty. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
