Tunisian Cup: Espérance crush lower league opposition to advance

Espérance Tunis advanced to the Round of 16 in the Tunisian Cup on Saturday with an easy 5-0 victory over Widad Sportif Hamma.

Achref Jabri scored twice in the first half to give the reigning Tunisian club champions a two-goal lead by the half hour mark. Youth academy graduate Aymen Hmidhi scored twice in the second half to confirm a routine victory.

Coach Patrice Beaumelle utilized an eleven composed entirely of domestic players for the occasion against WS Hamma, a club that competes below the top two professional divisions of Tunisian football in regional competition. Jabri, a rotation option at the forward position, took advantage of the opportunity to lead Taraji to victory.

The 24-year-old finished from a cross in the 15th minute before producing a poacher’s finish ten minutes later, placing his second attempt in the goal after an initial effort was denied by the goalkeeper. Hmidhi finished the job after halftime against an opponent that failed to cause any issues for the Tunis giants.

 

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Next up for Beaumelle and his charges is a massive rivalry match, the Tunisian Classico, against rivals Étoile du Sahel before they clash with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League semifinals. The Classico will take place next Saturday on April 4