It was hot, very hot, in Radès on Sunday afternoon. The stifling heat could understandably have raised concerns about the pace of the game and the players’ ability to cope, but it did not discourage the Blood and Gold supporters. They turned out in large numbers for the opening day of the Ligue 1 season, eager above all to see Espérance’s many new faces make a successful debut. They were not disappointed, at the end of a match that had almost every possible twist and turn.
From the opening minutes, Espérance took control. Two corners in quick succession before even the third minute, a high press and an Etoile side forced to defend: the tone was set. The Blood and Gold quickly occupied the opposition half and looked to impose their tempo.
Still, there was a need for vigilance. In the 14th minute, Etoile broke quickly and Abdallah Amri found himself one-on-one with Amenallah Memmiche. The attacker made the wrong choice, allowing Nidhal Laïfi, who had raced back at full speed, to make a last-ditch intervention and clear for a corner. A warning that came without consequence.
A minute later, Espérance finally got their reward for their dominance. Mohamed Belhadj-Mahmoud triggered an effective press, won the ball and, without hesitation, curled a superb effort past Sabri Ben Hassen. 1-0. A goal that reflected Espérance’s determination.
Etoile immediately tried to respond. A cross deflected by the Blood and Gold defence nearly caught Memmiche off guard, but the Espérance goalkeeper remained alert and produced an important reflex save.
The Blood and Gold continued to push forward. In the 23rd minute, Florian Danho picked out Youcef Belaïli, who was brought down in the box by Houssem Dagdoug. Penalty. Belaïli took responsibility, but his effort sailed well over the bar. Another chance to extend the lead gone begging.
Espérance remained in control until half-time, although they failed to convert the numerous chances they created. And, as so often happens in this kind of game, a few defensive lapses could have proved costly. In stoppage time, Memmiche once again had to intervene with his feet to keep out a dangerous counter-attack. At the break, the 1-0 lead looked logical, but everything remained open, especially with the intense heat already beginning to take its toll.
And the second half would completely change the complexion of the game.
In the 50th minute, a foul by Mohamed Ben Ali inside the box, although highly debatable, was punished with a penalty for Etoile. Achref Ben Dhiaf made no mistake to level the score at 1-1.
A few minutes later, the Blood and Gold went through a real spell of trouble. Etoile grew in confidence, won more duels and became increasingly dangerous. In the 61st minute, following another counter-attack, Oussama Abid found himself in a good position and beat Memmiche. In the space of just a few minutes, the game had been turned on its head: 1-2.
Everything had to be done again.
Laurențiu Reghecampf reacted immediately and made five substitutions. The objective was clear: inject fresh legs, restore intensity and, above all, put Etoile back under pressure.
The gamble would quickly pay off.
In the 75th minute, the Blood and Gold resumed their pressing. Achref Jabri created a first opportunity and was denied by Ben Hassen. But the move continued. With composure, Jabri intelligently laid the ball off to a completely unmarked Moez Hadj-Ali, who simply had to turn it into the net between two defenders. 2-2.
Radès came alive again.
And Espérance were not about to stop there. Seven minutes later, another wave of pressure, this time led by Konaté, unsettled the Etoile defence. A defender hurriedly played the ball back to his goalkeeper, who completely missed his clearance. Hadj-Ali, once again alert, had followed the play. Lurking nearby, he fired left-footed into the empty net. 3-2!
Within minutes, Espérance had turned around a game that had seemed to be slipping away from them only moments earlier. A genuine comeback, built on intense pressing, a collective reaction and a bench that provided exactly what was needed at the right moment.
Etoile launched one final assault in stoppage time, but Memmiche produced another big save in the 95th minute to preserve the lead.
Full time. 3-2.
After taking the lead, then conceding twice and allowing the game to slip away, the Blood and Gold found the resources to fight back and eventually secure the win. It was far from perfect. The defence looked vulnerable at times and Espérance could probably have put the game beyond doubt much earlier. But for an opening-day fixture, their ability to respond under pressure and turn around such a fiercely contested derby-like clash is certainly an encouraging sign.
In the furnace of Radès, Espérance suffered, wavered, then struck three times. A first Ligue 1 victory that already has a special flavour.
EST Lineup: Memmiche, Ben Ali, Laifi, Sahraoui (Becha 74'), Chikhaoui, Castillo, Rafia (Monyebe 71'), Belhadj-Mahmoud, Faraj (Hadj-Ali 66'), Belaïli(c) (Konaté 66') and Danho (Jabri 66').
Booking: Ben Ali, Memmiche.