2018 World Cup Qualifier: Tunisia 0-0 Libya – AS IT HAPPENED

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Saturday Nov 11, 2017. 21:18

We have come to the end of the ASW and we thank you for joining us for the match.

Lineups:

Tunisia: Mathlouthi, Youssef, Merieh, Msakni, Khazri, Khenissi, Maaloul, Ben Amor, Chaalani, Naguez, Badri

Libya: Nashnush, Maghasi, Sabbou, Tubal, Al-Warfali, Ghanudi, Mohamed, Benali, Eltrbi, Musrati, Ellafi

Commentary:

90+5' - It is full time in Rades and Tunisia's Carthage Eagles have booked a spot in Russia. They join Nigeria, Egypt, Senegal, and Morocco.

90+5' - Sub for Libya: Ghanudi off for El Taher

90+5' - Five minutes added in the match and Libya will hope to secure a win in the dying stages of the tie, whilst the hosts will want to end it at 0-0.

87' - Three minutes to wrap the encounter and it looks like it will finish at 0-0. Should it finish at 0-0, the score will be favourable for the hosts to book a spot in Russia.

83' - Sub for Tunisia: Sassi on for Badri

80' - Nashnush receives a yellow card for time wasting.

75' - Ghilane Chaalani given acres of space in the middle of the field and is able to test Nashnush from a distance aiming for the top left corner, but the keeper is equal to the task and makes a superb save.

74' - Sub for Libya: Tubal off for Taktak.

71' Ben Amor is booked for a foul.

70' Sub for Tunisia: Oussama Hadadi on for Ali Maaloul and Ben Youssef on for Khazri

65' - Despite their dominance and support at home, the Tunisians are not so clinical in front of goal.

60' - Libya under siege from their hosts, yet their defence remains stable and protecting Nashnush very well. No goals in the encounter as yet.

58' Sub for Libya: Badr on for Ellafi.

56' - A dipping strike by Msakni saw Nashnush diving to his left to parry the ball away for a corner. The host could not capitalise from the set piece.

50' - Mathlouthi saves a well-struck shot by Musrati to collect from second attempt. Tunisia losing the ball easily in the heart of the park.

46' - The second is underway, we are yet to see goals in the encounter.

45+2' Two minutes of injury time were added by the referee and there were no clear cut chances. It is half time in Rades. 0-0.

44' - Good touches by the Knights in the hosts half, but a final shot is wide off the target. An acrobatic attempt from Anice Badri forces another brilliant save from Libyan keeper to concede a corner.

40' - Taha Khenissi nearly found the back of the net when Nashnush tried to punch away a cross from the left, the ball went straight to Khenissi yet it went over the cross bar.

38' - Msakni tries another shot from a brilliant one touch football, his weak effort is collected by Nashnush. Tunisia 0-0 Libya.

30' - Tunisia need a draw to book a spot at the World Cup in Russia. Good movement by Tunisia and Youssef Msakni fails to keep his shot on target in the box.

25' - Libya are also holding their own in the crucial encounter. Coach Jalal Damja seems to be impressed by his charges.

21' - Tunisia in a hurry to bag an early goal, but are yet to dominate in the final third. Libya take a shot through Ahmed Eltrbi, but Mathlouthi saves. No goals after 20 minutes in Rades.

15' - A spectacular volley from Wahbi Khazri in the 12th minute nearly caught Nashnush off his line, but it went wide off the left top corner. Libya's Hamdou Mohamed tries a curling shot form a counter attack, but it's wide.

10' - The Mediterranean Knights are also fighting to penetrate the hosts, but find it difficult to break down the Tunisian defence. However, it is Tunisia who look threatening so far.

05' - Tunisia dictating terms as early as the third minute, with Mohamed Nashnush producing a fine save from Syam Ben Youssef's hot in the box.

01' - Libya get the proceedings underway in front of a packed Stade Olympique de Radès. The match gets underway.