The Kenyan outfit thought they had secured their first point in Group B as they had managed to hold the Moroccan giants until added minutes of the stoppages. However, Ben Yedder, who had replaced Hakim Ziyech in the 65th minute, had other ideas as he scored from close range to settle the closely fought battle.
Having lost all four of their Group B matches, United went into the fixture seeking to register their first victory.
The Nairobi-based side had seen their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages ended by Azam FC. The Tanzanian club beat United home and away to improve their slim hopes of reaching the stage for the first time in their history, winning the first meeting 2-1 in Nairobi before returning home to edge United 1-0.
United started the stronger side
United started the better side and should have taken the lead with only four minutes played. Shami Kibwana was almost clear on goal following a brilliant pass from Gideon Otieno, but Wydad's defence did enough to recover and clear the danger.
Wydad responded immediately and it was former Chelsea winger Ziyech who wasted a good opportunity. He found space on the edge of the box after a superb work from midfielder Naïm Byar, but his trademark curling strike went off the target.
United then squandered another chance to take the lead in the 13th minute. Kibwana, who was clean through, had a gaping goal, but instead of finishing off, he opted to deliver a pass, and there was no yellow shirt lurking in the danger area to tap it in.
The missed opportunity almost turned tragic for United as Wydad came close to breaking the deadlock three minutes later, but goalkeeper Kevin Oduor kept United in the game with a massive save.
Oduor then wasted no time with the ball, as he released Gideon Odour to initiate a counter-attacking move. He spotted the unmarked Benson Omalla with a defence-splitting pass, but the former Gor Mahia striker and FKF Premier League top scorer for the 2023/24 campaign with 19 goals failed to make the chance count.
United remained the dominant side, and in the 27th minute, Lesley Otieno tested Wydad custodian El Mehdi Benabid with a long-range effort, forcing a desperate save. Omalla Jnr was the sharpest to the rebound, but the linesman ruled him offside.
Five minutes into the half-time break, Nordin Amrabat saved United from going behind. A well-taken effort from Moises Paniagua destined for the net was redirected by Amrabat, who unintentionally did the job for United defenders.
The second period resumed with Wydad threatening first as Ziyech forced Oduor to make an incredible, full-stretching dive to keep the scores level.
United coach Salim Ali responded with the first change, with Titus Ssematimba coming in to replace Kibwana.
Ziyech was then withdrawn for Ben Yedder, and the winger looked frustrated as he kicked bottled water while walking off the pitch.
Wydad coach Amine Benhchem further benched Naim Byar for Abdelghafour Lamirat, while Walid Nassi replaced Paniagua.
The defeat saw United remain rooted at the bottom with zero points, while Wydad leap-frogged AS Maniema to first position with 12 points. Maniema dropped to second with nine points, the same number of points as third-placed Azam.
Dynamos silence RS Berkane
Zambia Super League champions Power Dynamos produced a stellar display to secure a hard-fought but commanding 2-0 CAF Champions League victory over Moroccan side RS Berkane at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Second-half goals from Ronel Manyanga in the 48th minute and Prince Mumba three minutes into additional time sealed a crucial three points for the Zambian champions, keeping their race for a quarter-final place firmly alive behind group leaders Pyramids FC.
Dynamos moved to seven points from five matches, level with their Moroccan opponents in the group standings. The result followed an impressive 1-0 away triumph over Rivers United in Nigeria.
Petro Atletico missed the chance to move into a commanding position in Group D after being held to a late 1-1 draw by Tanzania’s Simba SC in Luanda.
The Angolan champions appeared on course for a crucial victory that would have reshaped the qualification race, only for a late equaliser to deny them two valuable points.
JS Kabylie were left frustrated after failing to convert a number of promising chances against former African champions Al Ahly in a 0-0 draw at home.
