Esperance draws in day 3 of the CAF CL Mini-League. Photo | est.org.tn

CAF Champions League

Esperance, Etoile share spoils in Tunisian derby

Tunisian giants Esperance de Tunis and Etoile du Sahel (sic) played out to a goalless draw in their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Group C derby of Tunis at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Radès on Saturday.

Etoile had to finish the match with 10 men after Abdel Razak Bouazra was sent off for a second bookable offence with two minutes of regulation time to play.

The result leaves Esperance top of the group with five points while Etoile are second with three after three rounds of matches.

Playing on their home turf, it was Etoile who started off brighter and they had their first chance through Ivorian forward Souleymane Coulibaly, but the latter’s shot was kept out by Moez Ben Cherifia.

Esperance were stunned by the strong early start and they too pushed up their attack. They came close few minutes later, but Mohamed Ben Romdhane saw his well struck freekick come off the woodwork.

Etoile keeper Ali Jemal had to be at his best to keep out more efforts from Ben Romdhane and Kingsley Eduwo, who were constantly threatening.

In the second half, both teams stepped up in attack, but none was fortunate enough to find the back of the net.