Disappointing Draw for Etoile du Sahel
At the most unexpected moment, after doing the hardest part, Etoile du Sahel was caught up in the score at the end of the match, leaving room for bitterness.
A Promising Start
The Etoile du Sahel team had a perfect start, with an early goal, but they fell back into their bad habits. As a result, Aouani was quickly and unexpectedly expelled, and Senghor suffered a temporary injury, leaving on a stretcher before returning to the game. The worst was narrowly avoided, with almost nothing to show for it in the first half, except for Slah Ghedamsi's clearance to repel the Stade Tunisien's attacks, and Nassim Hnid's good overall performance.
A Team of Two Faces
The impression was that the Etoile du Sahel team had two faces: timid and fearful in the first half, and much better in the second half. The midfield, completely absent in the first 45 minutes, regained its colors after the break.
A Missed Opportunity
The entry of Dhaoui in the second half, replacing Al Qalib, who had made a lot of effort, allowed for some danger to be created in front of the goal. The Algerian Ben Maazouz, who replaced Senghor, seized the opportunity initiated by Dagdoug and Ben Choug, to deceive the Stade Tunisien's defense. However, what started as a missed match, ended as a missed finish, with the Stade Tunisien depriving Etoile du Sahel of two additional points, and maintaining their invincibility. The Nigerian Uche Goodlad was not exempt from criticism and should have better covered the ball.
Looking Ahead
After this match, which left a bitter taste, the Etoile du Sahel team wants to move forward and stay positive. In the post-match press conference, coach Mohamed Ali Nafkha expressed his dissatisfaction with the result: "Unfortunately, an error led to the draw. This point is not enough for us. We will work to improve and be better. We have a team that is improving and getting better with each match. As I have said before, we have many weaknesses to correct, and once we do, we will be better."
Disappointment and Injury
Despite the disappointment on his face, Nassim Hnid shared his impressions: "Since the 10th minute, we played with one less player, but my teammates did not disappoint. We scored first, then conceded a goal at the end of the match. We must quickly focus on the next match, which will be even more difficult." However, more than the two lost points, it is the absences that risk influencing the next matches. Above all, the absence of two key players in the Etoile du Sahel attack against Espérance this Sunday will weigh heavily, namely Aouani, who was expelled, and Anan, who accumulated three yellow cards.
