Espérance held to draw at ES Métlaoui

Espérance de Tunis have a two-point lead at the top of the Tunisia Ligue 1 Professionnelle table following Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at ES Métlaoui.

Achref Jabri’s early second half goal was canceled out by a late penalty kick from Senegalese midfielder Chérif Bodian, giving hosts ESM a result that moves them into 7th place on the table.

Espérance have now played the games in hand that they had on the rest of the competition, but will be disappointed that they were unable to move out of reach of closest challengers Club Africain.

After a scoreless first half, Taraji’s hopes of claiming all three points away from home increased when right back Ibrahima Keïta’s cross was spilled by former EST goalkeeper Hamza Ben Chrifia right to Jabri. The forward did enough to finish for his fifth league goal of the campaign.

But the hosts pushed to avoid defeat and it was Keïta who was called for a foul in the EST penalty area after trying to intervene on a ball played into the box. Bodian placed his spot kick high and just out of reach of goalkeeper Amanallah Memmiche.

Plenty of work ahead for Espérance and new coach

After a hectic period of four matches in eleven days, the reigning champions will get a much needed week off after their next league match at Olympique Beja on Sunday. Six days between their next fixture and a clash against midtable side AS Marsa will be valuable ahead of significant matches that are approaching.

 

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Newly-hired coach Patrice Beaumelle has plenty of work to do in little time to implement his tactics with a crucial CAF Champions league quarterfinal duel approaching against Egyptian champions Al Ahly SC. The first leg will take place in Tunis on March 13 before the second leg in Egypt a week later.