Tunisia’s Esperance revived their slim hopes of a place in the last four of the MTN CAF Champions League with a hard-fought 1-0 win over holders Al Ahly at the November 7 Stadium in Rades.
It is Esperance’s first win of the group phase and cuts short Al Ahly’s 100 percent record in Group B.

Follow up:

Moroccan international Hicham Aboucherouane had the first genuine scoring chance of what was a largely uneventful first half. The striker saw his left-footed shot from the edge of the box well saved by Amir Abdul-Hamid, in the 25th minute.


But Amir Abdul-Hamid, will have been disappointed when he allowed a low volley from Salama Kasdaoui to beat him at his near post, strike the woodwork and skip across the goal line to break the deadlock just six minutes before the break.


It was Esperance’s first goal of the group phase, as well as the first goal conceded by the defending champions in this competition since their 2-2 draw with Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of their third round qualifier.


And it proved to be the winner after a scoreless second half, although the hosts should have doubled their lead just five minutes after the break when Aboucherouane was again denied, this time from point blank range, by a superb Amir Abdul-Hamid, block.


A flat-looking Al Ahly simply never got out of second gear and a measure of the game was the fact that Esperance goalkeeper Hamdi Kasraoui did not make a single save of any great significance throughout the 90 minutes.


The defending champions remain on nine points at the head of the group, while Esperance move to four points, leapfrogging ASEC Mimosas, who host Al Hilal on Sunday evening.







Related Articles: ASEC-Ahli 0-1.(Pictures) | Ahli-Esperance 3-0. | Ahly-Esperance 3-0(goals).