Without Forcing, the "Sang et Or" Did the Essential in Ouagadougou
The Press — It took time for Maher Kanzari's men to gradually get into the match. The first leg of the second preliminary round of the Champions League, played yesterday in Ouagadougou against the Burkinabé team of Rahimo, was a test of patience. The first attempt by the Espérantistes was recorded after a quarter of an hour of play: Kouceila Boualia's shot was repelled by the Burkinabé goalkeeper (16'). The opposing reaction was not long in coming, attempting a lob, but the ball passed slightly to the side of Ben Saïd's goal (17'). The "Sang et Or" dominated the debates, but terribly lacked percussion in the last 30 meters for most of the initial period. And as the debates were heading towards a neutral result at halftime, Florian Danho, royally served at the second post, created a surprise with a header, directly into the goal (45').
In the second half, the Espérantistes sought to preserve their advantage by prioritizing caution. It was necessary to calm the ardor of the Burkinabé attackers who sometimes tried to get back into the match. On the "Sang et Or" side, Florian Danho, served on a platter in the penalty area, let a certain goal slip away, missing the frame by a hair's breadth (64'). And at the end of the match, Béchir Ben Saïd intervened on a well-struck direct free kick, deflecting the ball into a corner (89').
In the end, Maher Kanzari's men did the essential by winning a narrow victory. Enough to take an option in anticipation of the return leg, in a week at Radès.
EST: Ben Saïd, Keïta, Laifi, Jelassi, Guenichi, Ogbelu, Tka, Jebali (Derbali 74'), Boualia (Bouchniba 85'), Danho (Diakité 74'), and Konaté.
