The woes of Egypt's Pyramids were compounded with another loss to Raja, this time an embarrassing 3-0 home defeat that sent the Moroccans through to the Confederation Cup knockout stage on Sunday. Pyramids were out to avenge their 2-0 loss in Casablanca in their previous game but were instead outplayed again at Cairo's Air Defence Stadium as Raja inflicted a painful defeat on last season's runners-up. The hosts barely put up a fight as Raja went 2-0 up at halftime, thanks to goals from Fabrice Ngoma and Ben Malango, who was also on target in the Casablanca fixture. Soufiane Rahimi completed the rout with 13 minutes remaining following a brilliant solo effort as Pyramids were made to pay for another listless performance. Raja ensured their progress from Group D as they lie on top with maximum 12 points from four games, six clear of Pyramids and Zambia's Nkana. Tanzania's Namungo are bottom with no points. Bullet header Ben Malango went close with a long-range shot early on before Ngoma opened the scoring on the quarter-hour mark, sending a bullet header home after rising highest to meet an inswinging corner. Pyramids only had one effort in the first half, a curling shot from veteran playmaker Abdallah El-Said narrowly missing the target. Malango punished Pyramids' lethargic display with a second goal three minutes before the break, sliding in to drill a low shot past keeper Sherif Ekramy after making the most of a superb flick from Marouane Hadhoudi. The Congolese striker could have scored again early in the second half but blasted over the bar after racing clear before Rahimi made amends in the 77th minute following shambolic defending from Pyramids. A poorly-taken short free kick was intercepted by Raja in their own half and the ball was quickly played upfield to Rahimi, who broke free from almost the halfway line, turned experienced right-back Ahmed Fathi inside out and beat Ekramy at his near post with a precise shot. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
