Wydad Casablanca claimed a 1-0 win over Simba SC in Friday night's CAF Champions League quarterfinal second-leg clash at Stade Mohamed V in Morocco.
The Moroccan giants went on win 4-3 on penalties after the tie ended in a 1-1 draw on aggregate with Simba having won 1-0 in the first-leg encounter in Tanzania on April 22.
Wydad will now take on either South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns or CR Belouizdad of Algeria in the semifinals next month, while Simba bowed out of the tournament.
The Red Castle looked like a team determined to grab an early goal in the opening exchanges as they attacked in numbers and managed to score in the 24th minute.
Bouly Junior Sambou was the man who hit the back of the net to hand Wydad a 1-0 lead as the reigning African champions league leveled the tie at 1-1 on aggregate.
The hosts were leading 1-0 during the halftime break thanks Sambou's 18th goal of the season.
The Red Castle continued to control the game after the restart, but they couldn't keep their attempts on target as Yahya Jabrane fired over the crossbar in the 62nd minute.
Simba head coach Roberto Oliveira ‘Robertinho’ decided to introduce club veteran Erasto Nyoni in the 85th minute as the visitors looked to snatch a late equalising goal.
However, Wydad stood firm at the back and ultimately, the game ended in a 1-0 win in favour of the hosts and the tie had to be decided by a penalty shootout after ending in a 1-1 draw on aggregate.
Youssef El Motie was the hero during the penalty shootout as the lanky goalkeeper denied Saidi Ntibazonkiza and Clatous Chama to earn Wydad a 4-3 win on penalties.
Wydad (1) 1 (Sambou 24')
Simba (0) 0
Wydad won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw on aggregate
Wydad: El Motie, Benayada (El Amloud 84'), Aboulfath, Zola, Attiat-Allah, Jabrane, Daoudi (Haimoud 68'), El Hassouni, Bouhra (El Moutaraji 83'), Boussefiane (Ounajem 69'), Sambou.
Simba: Khatoro, Kapombe, Onyango, Baka, Hussein, Kanoute, Mzamiru, Ntibazonkiza, Chama, Kibu (Phiri 90'+6), Baleke (Nyoni 85').
