Espérance without
Nsilulu but with Nigerian U20 international Julius Aghahowa. St.Louisienne
tried to play out of a compact disciplined defence but Espérance
played with all their tools to crack the nut:
After only 10 minutes
they created an opportunity for Agoye who's shot was saved by the goalkeeper
befopre Zitouni put the bouncing ball into the net.
In the following minutes
St.Louisienne made some first attempts to attack and in the 13th minute
the referee refused them what looked like a clear penalty. His decisions
became even more dubious when later the Tunisian keeper El Ouaer handled
the ball outside the box. A free kick was rewarded but no card. The kick,
from a dangerous corner, had to be taken against a wall that was only 5m
away.
In the 43rd the match
was decided: An attack along the right wing saw Agoye center the ball to
Aghahowa who easily scored. The Nigerian celebrated his goal with a spectacular
5 times backward handstrip plus backward somersault.
The second half was
entirely lopsided. Espérance added three more, an unlucky own-goal
(55th), a Zitouni header after a sharp 20m shot bounced back from the keeper,
and an energetic solo action by player #4.
It was obvious that
there was a class between the two teams but Espérance should not
take the return leg to easily though. St.Louisienne is a disciplined team
who just did not see a chance anymore after the second goal.
Espérance now
also with an outstanding goal difference (10-0 !) looks hard to stop on
their way to the final.
Final result: 5:0
Final stats: ball posession
64-36, shots 27-2, corners 16-1, offsides 15-6, fouls 20-12
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