Esperance bow out despite win over Zamalek

ES Tunis player Khelil Chammam (C) and Mohamed Ali (R) in action against Zamalek player Shikabala (L) during the CAF Champions League

by Staff Reporter

Friday Mar 06, 2020. 23:13

Esperance de Tunis defeated Zamalek 1-0 in the CAF Champions League quarter-final second-leg match at the Stade Olympique de Radès on Friday night.

As a result, Tunisian champions Esperance bowed out of the competition, while Egyptian giants Zamalek reached the semi-finals after winning the tie 3-2 on aggregate.

The defending champions Esperance were keen to overturn a 3-1 deficit from the first-leg encounter which was played in Cairo.

They got off to the perfect start as they broke the deadlock just five minutes into the match through Billel Bensaha.

Mahmoud Alaa was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box and Bensaha scored from the spot-kick to make it 1-0 to Esperance.

The Blood and Gold then pushed for their second goal, but they were frustrated by the White Knights’ defence.

The score was 1-0 to Esperance at the interval with Zamalek leading 3-2 on aggregate.

The hosts pushed for their second goal of the match after the restart with Ivorian striker Ibrahim Ouattara working tirelessly in the attack.

Promising attacker Ali Ben Hammouda was introduced by the Esperance technical team after the hour-mark

The home side launched late attacks as they looked to grab a crucial goal which would have sent them to the semi-finals.

However, the visitors’ defence remained resolute and ultimately, Esperance emerged 1-0 winners on the night, but Zamalek won the tie 3-2 on aggregate.

Esperance (1) 1 (Bensaha 5′)

Zamalek (0) 0

Esperance: Cherifia, Mbarki, Yaakoubi, Bedrane, Coulibaly, Rabii, Bonsu (Ben Sghaier 84′), Choug (Hammouda 67′), Bensaha, Ouattara (Meziane 71′), Elhouni.

Zamalek: Abougabal, Abdel-Shafy, Hamdi, Alaa, Emam, Hamed, Sassi, Obama (M.Hassan 88′), Sayed (Salam 90’+1), Bencharki, Mohamed (Kassongo 81′).