Esperance de Tunis secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over AS Soliman in the second round of the Tunisian Ligue 1, played at the municipal stadium of Korba. The match was contested on a synthetic pitch that made life difficult for both sides. The condition of the field forced the coaching staff to rest two key players: Algerians Youcef Belaïli and Mohamed Amine Tougaï. However, their absence did not prevent the Blood and Gold from showcasing their collective strength and ability to come back from behind.

The match started off tough for Esperance. In the 17th minute, a misunderstanding between defender Hamza Jelassi and goalkeeper Aman Allah Memmiche allowed Soliman's Cameroonian striker, Roche Foning Tazon, to open the scoring against the run of play. This goal came at a time when Cardoso's men seemed to be gaining control of the game. Soliman's clinical finishing, coupled with some imprecise defending, gave the home side an unexpected lead.

Despite this setback, Esperance quickly responded. Faced with a brilliant performance from AS Soliman's goalkeeper, Hamza Ghanmi, who saved numerous attempts, the Esperance coach decided to make tactical adjustments. In the 32nd minute, he made a bold substitution, replacing midfielder Ogbelu with striker Abdelli, seeking to add more attacking threat.

This decision paid off quickly. In the 39th minute, Derbali, positioned on the left wing, made a powerful run before attempting a cross-shot that brushed off a defender and nestled into Ghanmi's net. This equalizer (1-1) breathed new life into the team and leveled the playing field.

The second half was marked by a clear dominance from Esperance. The introductions of Konaté and Kada brought even more dynamism and presence in the opposition's box. Despite the fierce resistance of goalkeeper Hamza Ghanmi, Esperance finally found the breakthrough in the 66th minute. With a remarkable individual effort, Konaté, positioned on the right wing, managed to beat several defenders before firing a powerful shot into the back of the net, giving his team the lead (1-2).

In the final minutes of the match, Esperance pushed for a third goal to seal the victory, but once again, Ghanmi pulled off several world-class saves. A penalty could have been awarded in the 90th minute following a foul on Tka, but the referee waved play on.

In the end, Esperance left Korba with three valuable points and a 2-1 victory that demonstrates the team's strength of character. The absences of Belaïli and Tougaï did not hinder Esperance's momentum, and despite the difficult pitch and the exceptional performance of the opposing goalkeeper, the Blood and Gold managed to impose their superiority.

Congratulations to the players for their dedication and determination to come back into the match and claim this well-deserved victory.

EST lineup: Memmiche, Bouchniba, Ben Hamida, Meriah (c), Jelassi, Aholou, Ogbelu (Abdelli 32'), Tka, Sasse (Ayeb 85'), Derbali (Konaté 56') and Sowe (Kada 46').