A reaction was needed. Following the unexpected defeat to JS Omrane, Espérance faced AS Marsa with one objective: to get back on track. Mission accomplished, but not without a few scares. The Blood and Gold ran out 2-1 winners in Radès on Sunday, after dominating the game for long spells before having to dig deep to hold on to all three points.

Laurențiu Reghecampf made several changes to his starting XI. Adjustments were made following the previous game, along with a return to a more familiar setup, with a back four. Youcef Belaïli and Lucas Ribeiro started on the bench, with the option of bringing fresh legs into the game in the second half.

Espérance quickly took control of the match. In the 7th minute, Hamza Mastouri finished off a good combination with Imad Faraj, but his effort failed to find the back of the net. A few minutes later, Maël Fernandez Monyebe found himself in a good position, only for the AS Marsa goalkeeper to intervene just in time.

The young Cameroonian forward would not have to wait long to make his mark, though. In the 24th minute, Moez Hadj-Ali delivered a perfectly struck free kick. Monyebe got to the ball first and redirected it with his left foot. The finish was precise and gave Hamza Ben Chérifia no chance: 1-0.

Monyebe, who had been a constant threat since the start of the game, came close to doubling the lead two minutes later with a curling effort that narrowly missed the post. Espérance appeared to have the game under control.

But one lapse was enough to change the picture. In the 35th minute, AS Marsa capitalised on a quick counterattack. Mohamed Aziz Chaouech sent in a driven cross which Nour Mani intercepted. Amenallah Memmiche had come off his line and was unfortunate on the play, leaving him unable to prevent Mani from finding the back of the net and bringing the two sides level, 1-1.

The Blood and Gold immediately went back on the offensive. Nidhal Laifi picked out Mastouri with a cross, but his header went over the bar. At the other end, AS Marsa could even have taken the lead: Rayan Hamrouni's counterattacking effort in the 42nd minute was on target, forcing Memmiche into a superb save to turn it behind for a corner.

In added time, Monyebe tried his luck once again with a powerful strike that narrowly missed the target. The forward had undoubtedly been the standout player of the first half, but the two teams went into the break level at 1-1.

Everything had to be done again.

Reghecampf decided to rebalance his side at the break. Two midfield changes saw Hamza Rafia and Mohamed Belhadj-Mahmoud come on, with the aim of adding greater defensive stability and regaining control of the game.

Then, just before the hour mark, the Blood and Gold coach called on his two attacking options. Youcef Belaïli and Lucas Ribeiro entered the fray, and Espérance immediately shifted up a gear.

AS Marsa dropped deeper and closed down the spaces. In the 63rd minute, the Blood and Gold struggled to find a way through, although Ribeiro came close with an instinctive volley. Three minutes later, Mastouri met a cross with a header but could not keep his effort on target. The chances were piling up, but the goal remained elusive.

Until the 67th minute.

On a brilliantly executed Blood and Gold counterattack, Ribeiro picked out Belaïli in an excellent position. The Brazilian's pass was simple and effective. Belaïli made no mistake, firing a powerful finish past Ben Chérifia to put Espérance back in front. 2-1!

The bench could finally breathe. The substitutions had paid off and, with Belaïli and Ribeiro on the pitch, Espérance's attack had taken on a different dimension.

There was still no room for complacency, however. AS Marsa pushed for an equaliser and Espérance had to manage the final minutes carefully. Deep into stoppage time, in the 90+6th minute, Mastouri rose to meet another header, but Ben Chérifia made the save to keep out a potential third goal.

This time, the score would not change.

Espérance thus secured a much-needed victory following the setback against Omrane. It was far from perfect, particularly in the management of certain defensive situations. But the most important thing was achieved: a reaction, a return to winning ways and, above all, no time allowed for doubt to settle in.

EST lineup: Memmiche(c), Dräger (Ribeiro 59'), Laifi, Jelassi, Chikhaoui (Sahraoui 82'), Castillo (Rafia 46'), Konaté, Hadj-Ali (Belhadj-Mahmoud 46'), Monyebe, Faraj (Belaïli 59') and Mastouri.
Booked: Belhadj-Mahmoud, Monyebe.