More Determined to Make a Difference, Zarzisians Achieve a Precious Victory in Gabès
The Zarzisians have managed to bring back a precious victory from Gabès, allowing them to preserve their leadership position.
The Context
The Espérance de Zarzis, leading the ranking by only one point ahead of its runner-up, Club Africain, traveled to Gabès in search of the three points of victory. Their host, AS Gabès, also aspired to redeem themselves after the heavy defeat conceded in the previous day in Sousse (0-3).
A Game of Strategy
Sharing the same desire to win, the two teams opted from the start for an oriented game, certainly towards the offense, but without taking unnecessary risks. The Gabésians, like the Zarzissians, sought to cover their backs by establishing a first defensive barrier. As a result, there were many duels at the level of the midfield, and consequently, the clear opportunities were rare.
Key Moments
That being said, we had the right to two major opportunities in the first half. At 28', Hakim Tka's shot grazed the crossbar. The reaction of the Zarzissians did not wait: a powerful centering from the right of Lamjed Rjili, boxed by the Gabesian goalkeeper, Mohamed Yassine Mechri (30'). And the two teams finished by joining the locker rooms for the half-time break with a nil-nil score.
The Determination to Win
Aware that only victory could guarantee them to preserve their leadership position without having to look in the rearview mirror, the Zarzissians stepped onto the pitch after the half-time break more determined to settle the matter, knowing that the Gabesian Mohamed Nasr Hamed had missed a great opportunity to open the scoring by not making good use of the ball when he found himself face to face with the Zarzisian goalkeeper following a centering from the left of Naoui (66').
The Turning Point
A few minutes later, Hamed would regret his monstrous miss when Moumen Rahmani, fouled by Mohamed Abdourahmane on the edge of the 16-meter zone, obtained a direct free kick, but not only that. After resorting to the VAR and as Rahmani proved to be the last attacker, Abdourahmane was expelled (75'). This numerical inferiority would benefit the Zarzissians. Indeed, the situation changed at 86': following a centering from the right of Rjili for Tajouri, who heads the ball back for Moumen Rahmani. The latter, with a flick, puts the ball into Mechri's net.
The Final Minutes
In added time, the Zarzisian goalkeeper, Seiffeddine Charfi, author of a nice save, erased a goal from Mouhib Selmi (90'+6). More determined, the "Sang et Or" of Zarzis imposed themselves in Gabès, which allows them to remain at the top of the ranking.
Team Lineups
ASG: Mechri, Béji (Touati 58'), Khedher, Abdourahmane, Helali (Zanati 90'), Yaakoubi (Naoui 58'), Belghith, Boulila, Tka (Sekrafi 90'), Nasr Hamed (Khadhraoui 78'), and Selmi. ESZ: Charfi, Sghaier, Rjili, Diallo, Maheressi, Tajouri (Kassab 90'+5), Khalfa, Coumbassa (Ben Kilani 90'+4), Chouchen (Ben Dhiaf 57'), Rahmani (Jertila 90'+5), and Oguh (Innocent 57').
