A Missed Penalty by Danho and a Brilliant Save by Chamekh, the Derby Ends Without a Winner
Amir Loucif had the final say, denying the CA a penalty in stoppage time.
La Presse — The highly anticipated capital derby took place yesterday, featuring the league leader, Espérance, and its closest rival, Club Africain, in the 14th round of L1. The two teams clashed with the goal of widening the gap for the "Sang et Or" (Espérance) and for Club Africain to close the gap with its arch-rival.
Yesterday, while Club Africain was looking to bounce back from two consecutive draws that had slowed its progress in the standings, Espérance, with three consecutive wins, aimed to secure its top spot. The match began with a lively atmosphere, and the two teams quickly got into the action. Maher Kanzari was the first to test Faouzi Benzarti's team.
The match started with a box-to-box encounter between Zemzemi and Blaili, setting the tone for a intense and physical game. Espérance dominated possession, while Club Africain remained cautious but ready to counter-attack.
The duels between players were fierce, with several intense moments, including a tackle by Jelassi on Chawat in the 11th minute. The referee, Amir Loucif, had to intervene to calm the situation. In the 15th minute, Club Africain attempted a foray down the right flank, but Espérance's defense held firm.
Before the 30-minute mark, Blaili was replaced by Konaté due to an injury, while Yann Sasse was also substituted out for Kouceila Boualia. The derby was marked by its physicality, with both teams giving their all. In the 29th minute, Chawat's sprint and cross were met by Ogbelu's timely intervention.
Club Africain pushed forward, pinning Espérance back, but the latter regrouped and regained ground. Five minutes from the end of the first half, Espérance launched a fierce attack, but Club Africain's defense held firm. For this first period, Ogbelu was the standout player for Espérance, while Zemzemi was the key man for Club Africain, thwarting several Espérance attacks.
The first half ended with a intense and athletic performance from both teams, with Espérance trying to impose its game and Club Africain relying on direct play.
Everything was possible in the second half, with both teams going all out. However, it was Espérance that was awarded a penalty, confirmed by the VAR, but Danho's shot was saved by Mouhib Chamekh. The Club Africain goalkeeper kept his team in the game.
In the final quarter of an hour, Club Africain could have taken the lead with a half-volley from Mesmari that narrowly missed the target. The goal was heating up in both camps, but neither team could convert their chances into goals due to a lack of precision, luck, or effectiveness in the final phase of the action.
In the 90th minute, Sghaier's shot was deflected by Ben Ali's hand, but referee Amir Loucif did not award a penalty, despite the obvious handball. The CA was denied a clear penalty, and it was evident that Amir Loucif had decided to end the match with a draw.
Lineups:
CA: Mouhib Chamekh, Ghaith Zaalouni, Hamza Ben Abda, Ali Youssef, Oussema Shili, Moataz Zemzemi, Osama Cherimi (Saidou Khan), Sadok Mahmoud (Ghaith Sghaier), Hamza Khadhraoui, Bilel Ait Malek (Fahd Mesmari), Firas Chawat.
EST: Bechir Ben Said, Mohamed Ben Ali, Hamza Jelassi, Yassine Meriah, Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida, Onuche Ogbelu, Houssem Tka, Chiheb Jebali (Achref Jabri), Yan Sasse (Kouceila Boualia), Youcef Blaili (Abdramane Konaté), Florian Danho (Nidhal Laifi).
