Sfaxiens Claim Victory with a Single Penalty
The Sfaxiens secured a win with just one penalty, showcasing their mastery of the game and ability to preserve their advantage against the Étoilés, who failed to capitalize on their chances.
Previous Matchups and Ambitions
The Étoilés, having drawn with the Cabistes in their previous match, aimed to get back on track with a win at home and end the first phase of the championship on a positive note. Meanwhile, the Sfaxiens sought to maintain their winning momentum, having won their last two matches.
A Cautious Start
The match began with a cautious approach from both teams, taking around 10 minutes for the players to warm up. The first opportunity arose in the 11th minute when Aymen Dahmen intervened to stop Raki Aouani's shot. The Sfaxiens responded quickly, with Rayane Derbali nearly scoring from a cross by Iyed Belwafi, but the ball hit the post (12').
The Turning Point
As the game heated up, the Sfaxiens' pressing paid off when the referee awarded them a penalty after Slah Ghedamsi handled the ball, which was confirmed by the VAR. Hichem Baccar converted the penalty (23'), changing the course of the match. The Sfaxiens then adopted a more cautious approach, while the Étoilés pushed forward to equalize.
Étoilés' Missed Chances
Before the halftime break, the Étoilés nearly scored when Mohamed Kanté headed a cross from Mohamed Dhaoui, but the ball went slightly wide of the right post (37'). In the second half, the Étoilés' coach, Mohamed Ali Nafkha, made offensive changes, introducing Mohamed Ben Sghaïer and later Ben Maazouz and Chaabani. Although the Étoilés' attacking game improved, their strikers lacked precision in the final 20 meters, with Raki Aouani losing the ball in front of Kevin Mundeko, who cleared it for a corner (62').
Red Card and Expulsion
The Étoilés' plans were disrupted when Houssem Dagdoug was sent off (74') for fouling Omar Ben Ali, leaving the team with 10 players. The Sfaxiens nearly capitalized on their numerical advantage, but Ben Hassen made a great save to deny Belwafi's powerful shot, served by Trabelsi (79').
Final Outcome
The Sfaxiens demonstrated solid defensive skills and remained dangerous on the counter-attack, while the Étoilés lacked tact and were unlucky. The final score reflected the Sfaxiens' mastery of the game, with the single penalty proving decisive.
Team Lineups
ESS: Ben Hassen, Ghedamsi, Hnid (Ben Sghaïer 46'), Dagdoug, Naouali, Ben Amor (Bouslama 69'), Ben Choug (Boughattas 82'), Dhaoui (Ben Maazouz 69'), Anane, Kanté (Chaabani 59'), and Aouani. CSS: Dahmen, Maaloul, Mundeko, Baccar, Habcha, Derbali, Ouédraogo, Mutyaba (Sekkouhi 65'), Trabelsi (Chaabane 89'), Belwafi (Onana 89'), and Ogbole (Ben Ali 42').
