Esperance held by resilient Sagrada in TotalEnergies CAF ...
Published: Friday, 06 December 2024
Tunisian giants Esperance Tunis were forced to settle for a goalless draw against Sagrada Esperança in their second group stage match of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League at Estádio 11 de Novembro in Angola on Friday.
The result means Esperance remains unbeaten in Group D but faced stern resistance from a Sagrada side eager to bounce back from their heavy opening loss.
Esperance, led by coach Laurentiu Reghecampf, came into the match on the back of a commanding 4-0 victory over Djoliba in their group opener, but they struggled to break down Sagrada’s solid defensive set-up.
Despite dominating possession and creating multiple chances, the visitors found Sagrada goalkeeper and defenders equal to the task.
Chances were aplenty in the match, with Esperance’s Rodrigo Rodrigues and Youcef Belaïli going close in the first half.
The home side, inspired by a vociferous crowd, also threatened through Beny Papel and Mussá, but neither team could find the decisive breakthrough.
Late drama saw Esperance’s Hamza Jelassi and Houssem Tka booked for fouls in the dying minutes, underscoring the intensity of the contest.
Reghecampf’s men will feel frustrated for not capitalizing on their opportunities, particularly as they aim to maintain their lead in Group D.
For Sagrada, the result will be seen as a step forward after their 5-1 defeat to Pyramids in the opening game.
The Angolan side extended their impressive home unbeaten streak to nine matches in all competitions.
Esperance now leads Group D with four points from two matches, while Sagrada picked up their first point of the campaign.
Pyramids, who were tied on three points with Esperance prior to Friday's match, face Djoliba on Sunday in a match that could shake up the standings further.
The stakes remain high for all teams in Group D as they seek to advance to the knockout stage of Africa's premier club competition.
