CAF Champions League

Esperance come out top in North derby


Ben Hammouda celebrates after scoring Esperance's first goal. Photo | CAF Online
Ben Hammouda celebrates after scoring Esperance's first goal. Photo | CAF Online

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Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis emerged victorious in the... North African TotalEnergies CAF Champions League derby... on Saturday.

Esperance beat Egyptian side Zamalek 2-0 in Rades to remain top of Group D.

Esperance 2-0 Zamalek

In Rades, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane scored a 92nd minute sucker punch to add on to Mohammed Ali Ben Hammouda’s first half goal as Esperance made it three wins in three matches with a well worked victory over Egypt’s Zamalek.

Taraji sit top of Group D with a maximum nine points from three matches, with four goals scored and they are yet to concede a goal.

Esperance dominated the match and rightly claimed victory in their home turf.

In the 14th minute, Ben Hammouda and Raed Bouchniba both had efforts blocked on the line after Zamalek struggled to clear a set piece. Hamdou Elhouni also had an effort hit the side netting with a shot from the right.

They finally broke the deadlock in the 35th minute, Hammouda volleying the ball home from close range after the Zamalek keeper had punched a cross right into his path.

Zamalek didn’t have much of a response and the closest they came from then on, was via an improvised volley from Shikabala which rolled straight into the keeper’s arms.

In the second half, Zamalek stepped up as they bid to scratch the single goal trail.

But, in their push to get back into the game, they were caught on the counter, Elhouni rolling the ball to Ben Romdhane to slide home in the second minute of added time.

Pressure is now on Zamalek who have lost two matches and have just one point from their draw against Al Merreikh.

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