Wasteful Esperance let Setif off the hook

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Apr 16, 2022. 10:00

One CAF Champions League quarter-final first-leg match was played on Friday night with ES Setif of Algeria frustrating Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis.

The two teams played to a 0-0 draw in a North African Derby encounter which took place at the Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers with Esperance dominating the match from start.

Esperance created the better chances, but they were frustrated by goalkeeper Sofiane Khedairia, who was simply in top form between the sticks for the home side on the night.

Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane and Kingsley Eduwo both found themselves in one-on-one situations with Khedairia and the 33-year-old shot-stopper produced two amazing saves to deny the duo.

At the other end, Setif did threaten the four-time African champions, but Riad Benayad and Abdelmoumene Djabou were both superbly denied by keepers Moez Ben Cherifia at the near-post.

However, Khedairia was finally beaten by Ghailene Chaalali from a well-taken long-range free-kick that hit the crossbar, but the Setif goal-minder denied Raed Fedaa from the rebound and the score was 0-0 at half-time.

Khedairia was the busier of the two keepers after the restart as the former Le Mans shot-stopper was forced to come out and block Sabir Bougrine’s attempt after his defence was exposed.

Before pulling off more saves as he denied Ben Romdhane and Chaalali to ensure that the first-leg match ended in a 0-0 draw. The two sides will now meet in the second-leg clash in Tunisia on April 22.

The quarter-final action will continue on Saturday with three matches taking place as the teams battle to book their spots in the semi-finals of Africa’s most prestigious club tournament.

Caf Champions League quarter-final fixtures

Kick-off times in CAT

Saturday, 16 April

18h00 – Petro de Luanda (Angola) v Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

22h00 – Al Ahly (Egypt) v Raja Casablanca (Morocco)

23h00 – CR Belouizdad (Algeria) v Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)