Tunisian titans Espérance Sportive de Tunis looked set for another victory against Egypt's Pyramids FC but the hosts turned things around late to shock EST by a 2-1 score in Sunday's CAF Champions League clash in Cairo. EST star Youcef Belaïli scored the opening goal but Mostafa Fathi equalized in the 90th minute before setting up Ibrahim Adel for an amazing bicycle kick goal to win it in stoppage time.
The visitors from Tunisia played a controlled match, successfully limiting the Pyramids attack in a first half stalemate that left the teams scoreless at halftime. Before the hour mark it was EST who struck through star player Belaïli when the Algerian finished from a cross by Mohamed Ben Ali.
Espérance tried to play careful and defensive to close the victory out but this strategy cost them dearly. Substitute Mostafa Fathi came on and provided a major spark for the hosts, equalizing in the 90th minute when his whipped cross went through the EST penalty area and past a frozen Amanallah Memmiche in the Espérance goal.
Things went from bad to worse for EST only minutes later in second half stoppage time. The visitors failed to clear a poor initial cross from Fathi and he was able to collect and send in a more accurate cross to find Pyramids star Adel for an incredible strike to confirm a stunning victory.
The victory moves Pyramids level with EST at the top of Group D, both teams having 6 points each. Both clubs are two points clear of Angola's Sagrada who defeated Djoliba by a 1-0 score in Luanda. Mussa Teixeira scored the only goal of the match with an excellent volley from a cross.
Sagrada 1-0 Djoliba highlights
Group D Table
GP | Points | |
Espérance | 4 | 7 |
Pyramids FC | 4 | 7 |
Sagrada | 4 | 5 |
Djoliba | 4 | 2 |
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