Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane says Wydad AC will regret the day they sent their B-team to face them in the CAF Champions League.
The two-time African champions sent a second-string side to Johannesburg in April in the second last group stage clash after already qualifying for the knockout stages while Chiefs were on the brink of elimination.
But the plan has backfired in hindsight as Amakhosi beat the Botola Pro League leaders 1-0 thanks to captain Bernard Parker before their 2-2 draw with Horoya moved them towards the quarter-final stage.
Their 4-3 aggregate win over Simba led to the last-four showdown, which the Soweto giants edged after the two legs in Morocco and South African respectively through Samir Nurkovic's solitary strike.
"It was never going to be an easy journey for us, we knew it was going to be tough because we're competing against the best on the continent," Zwane said in the post-match press conference.
"Going back to the game, we knew their strength from day one, I think they will regret the day they decided to send their 'B-team. I think it's more of learning [curve] especially for us that when you're on the road, you don't take anyone for granted.
"We're obviously going to be underdogs competing against them and they paid the price because I think if they sent their best team that time - maybe things would have been different.
"Fortunately for them, they took us for granted that time and we gave them something to think about and surprise them. They're a very good team there's no doubt about it, solid team, good in defence, also very good going forward.
He added: "But they also have their weaknesses like any other team whatever formation they put up there, we were still going to capitalise because we always underdogs.
"It worked for us, the way we planned, we knew if we go pound for pound with them - we'd open up and give them space to punish you. They had a few chances today but Daniel Akpeyi came to the party and the whole defence."
Chiefs will now face either Al Ahly or Esperance in the final of Africa's elite club competition in a once-off final in Casablanca on 17 July (21h00).