Esperance-Club Africain race rolls on

2009-10-19

At the end of round eight, just two points separate Club Africain from league leaders Esperance.

By Mona Yahia for Magharebia in Tunis – 19/10/09

[e-s-tunis.com] Khalil Chammam (right) of Esperance during Sunday's match against CS Hammam-Lif in Radès.

Esperance Sportive de Tunis (EST) snatched a landmark 3-1 victory from Club Sportif de Hammam-Lif on Sunday (October 18th), cementing their lead in the Tunisian Premier League after the eighth round. EST now boast a total of 21 points, putting them two ahead of rivals Club Africain.

CS Hammam-Lif took EST off guard with an early goal that mixed up Esperance's defensive line and allowed them to end a first half with an edge for the first time this season. During the second half, however, Esperance re-took control. Zeid Derballi scored a tying goal three minutes in with a header. It was not long before Oussama Darragi scored the second and third goals.

"I'm delighted," Darragi said after the match. "I scored a goal like the one I scored against Nigeria."

Esperance trainer Faouzi Benzarti said he was pleased with his team's performance in general, stressing that performance was more important than results.

CS Hammam-Lif linger in last place with four points.

In a Saturday match, Club Africain overcame their scoring difficulties in the final moments against AS Kasserine, winning 2-0 in Radès. The goals were scored by Nader Zouadi in the 76th minute and Mehm Traoui in the 87th minute.

Club Africain ended the round in second place overall, while AS Kasserine landed in 13th with just five points.

Elsewhere, Esportif de Hammam-Sousse held visiting Union Sportive Monastirienne (USM) to a goalless draw. USM coach Henri Depireux commented, "I am not at all pleased with the performance of my players, especially since the opponents were missing a player."

The two teams share 10th place with Espérance Sportive de Zarzis, with seven points.

In their first defeat this season, Club Athlétique Bizertin were crushed by Étoile Sportive de Sahel three goals to one. The victors climbed to third place with 16 points, to share the spot with Stade Tunisien. Bizertin, however, dropped to fifth with 15 points, despite an early league lead that ended in round five.

Olympique de Béja defeated Espérance Sportive de Zarzis 1-0, assuming ninth place with eight points, and pushing Zarzis to 10th place with seven points.

El Gawafel Sportives de Gafsa defeated Jeunesse Sportive Kairouanaise with a single goal, thus nudging their opponents to seventh place with nine points.

Finally, Club Sportif Sfaxien bested Stade Tunisien 2-1, holding tight in 6th place with 14 points.