Espérance de Tunis reaffirmed their top spot in the league with a controlled 2-0 victory over AS Gabès on Saturday. This 23rd-round Ligue 1 clash saw the Blood and Gold extend their impressive run of form.

From the kickoff, Espérance faced an early scare when AS Gabès' Oussama Naffati fired a shot in the 3rd minute, forcing a sharp save from Memmiche, who tipped the ball away for a corner.

The pitch's poor condition made passing tricky, disrupting both teams' flow (12'). However, the Blood and Gold made the most of their opportunities.

The deadlock was broken in the 25th minute with a well-worked move: a long ball found Aboubacar Diakité, who chested it down and laid it off to the onrushing Yan Sasse. Sasse coolly slotted the ball past the keeper to make it 1-0.

Seven minutes later, Espérance doubled their lead after another attack down the right flank. Chiheb Jebali's pinpoint cross found Yan Sasse at the penalty spot, who finished clinically for his second goal (0-2, 32').

AS Gabès tried to respond, but the Blood and Gold remained dominant, creating further chances through Houssem Tka (34') and Diakité, whose powerful effort went just wide (40'). The halftime whistle blew with Espérance leading 2-0, a testament to their control.

After the break, Diakité continued to trouble the Gabès defense, but his low shot missed the target (49'). Espérance then managed their lead intelligently, staying solid at the back and looking to exploit counter-attacks.

One such counter almost led to a third goal in the 77th minute: Raed Bouchniba's perfect pass found Diakité, who finished past the keeper. However, after a VAR review, the goal was disallowed for a foul in the buildup.

The final stages were uneventful, with Espérance managing their efforts and holding onto their advantage. No significant chances were created in the closing minutes, and the Egyptian referee blew the final whistle with the scoreline at 2-0.

This convincing win sees Espérance de Tunis continue their march at the top of the table. A job well done, marked by first-half efficiency and smart game management in the second half. Kudos to the players and staff for a fine performance!

EST Lineup: Memmiche, Ben Ali (Bouchniba 63'), Ben Hamida(c) (Bouzaïène 90'), Smiri, Jelassi, Guennichi, Tka (Azouni 63'), Ogbelu, Sasse (Hamrouni 86'), Jebali, and Diakité (Kada 86').
Booked: Diakité, Ogbelu.