Only pride at stake for Platinum, Esperance

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Mar 14, 2019. 12:00

FC Platinum and Esperance de Tunis will play only for pride when they meet in their final CAF Champions League Group B match at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane on Saturday, 16 March 2019, kick-off at 15h00 CAT.

Both sides’ fate for this stage of the competition has already been decided: Platinum will finish bottom of the group regardless of the result, while Esperance have already secured top spot and a place in the quarterfinals.

The Platinum Boys come into the clash on the back of a 2-2 draw away to Orlando Pirates last weekend. The Zimbabweans looked on course for a win in Soweto thanks to strikes from Never Tigere and Rainsome Pavari, but conceded two late goals to be denied a first win in the group stage.

The Blood and Gold, meanwhile, eased to a 2-0 home win over Guinea’s Horoya in Rades, with an own goal from Marius Assoko and a late strike from Franck Kom extending their unbeaten record.

Esperance will see this game in Zimbabwe as a chance to rest their key men, allowing manager Moine Chaabani to test out new combinations.

The teams met on Matchday 2 back in January, with the Tunisian giants claiming a 2-0 home win at Stade El Menzah thanks to a brace from Taha Yassine Khenissi.

The other Group B match sees Horoya host Orlando Pirates in Conakry, with the teams fighting to join Esperance in the final eight of the continental competition.

Botswana referee Joshua Bondo will take charge of the match in Zvishavane.