Espérance Sportive de Tunis (EST) fans who were hoping for a good start of their team in Tunisia's Ligue 1, after a very poor run in CAF Confederation Cup 2015 (5 losses and only 1 win), were utterly disappointed. Espérance’s woes seem to go on as the new season kickstarts.
On Wednesday, in Abdel Aziz Chétioui Stadium, AS Marsa (ASM) beat EST 3-1. The hosts took the lead, doubled and then trebled the score (Khaled Yahia 24', Lassâad Jaziri 60' and Michailou Dramé 80'), although they had Maher Laâbidi red carded (44’) and two of their defenders lost to injury and substituted. Haythem Jouini could have levelled, but glumly missed a penalty kick (54’). Fakhreddine Ben Youssef added to the woes of Espérance when he was shown the red card for misconduct (55’). Taha Yassine Khenissi pulled one back a few minutes before the end of an unsatisfactory game by the Blood and Gold (86’).
Starting lineup: Ben Chérifia, Derbali (Bguir 70'), Chammam, Yaâkoubi, Machani, Ragued (c), Chaâlali, Ben Youssef, Bulbwa (Rejaïbi 59'), Khenissi and Jouini (Mhirsi 64').
Yellow cards: Chaâlali, Machani.
Red cards: Ben Youssef 55'.