African Super Cup: MAS beats Espérance in Tunis

Never two without three. After the Throne Cup it won against its neighbour CODM, and the CAF Cup it won against Club Africain, the Moghreb de Fès just paid for itself, last Saturday, with Espérance de Tunis by winning the Orange CAF Super Cup in Radès. It must be said that penalty shootouts work well for Taoussi's protégés since they defeated the two best Tunisian clubs in this event. It is no less true that the MAS has reached an undeniable maturity at the continental level. It must also be said that if at the national team level, Tunisia has become the bogeyman for Gerets' band, on the club side, the MAS is on the way to becoming a real scarecrow for Tunisian teams. Well-organised, disciplined on the tactical level, and physically superior, the Fassis impressed the Radès public. Without complex and with great confidence, Dahmani's teammates started Saturday's match on the front foot by bringing danger into the opposing camp. They were not intimidated by the large crowd supporting their opponent of the day and played with great serenity in all compartments of the game. In defence, vigilance and composure were the order of the day. Well grouped around the excellent Zniti, the Fassi defenders kept watch and operated magnificent relaunch gestures, sometimes through the midfield, sometimes through long passes towards the attackers. It must be said that this strategy stifled Ducastel's Tunisians, especially in midfield. The Swiss counted a lot on this compartment to create goal-scoring opportunities. Thus, the Fassis were more confident and dominated the match on both mental and tactical levels. This gave them the advantage in the 20th minute with a lovely goal from Hamza Bourazzouk following an excellent service from Hamza Hajji, one of the best full-backs in the championship that Gerets ignores. The Tunisians could not believe it and were disoriented throughout the first half. In the second period, the Fassis, keeping their composure and without confining themselves to defence, let Espérance's players come and tried to score a second goal. The Sang et Or rushed towards Zniti's goal, who was excellent in his interventions and in the management of his defence. However, he was forced to leave the pitch in the 59th minute following an involuntary charge from a Tunisian player and was replaced by Ismail Kouha. Espérance was also deprived of the services of its international defender Mejdi Traoui, expelled in the 62nd minute after accumulating two warnings. This expulsion was going to give bite to the locals who practised constant pressing on the Fassi defence. Diop, who came on in the second half, had the opportunity to kill the match against the Espérance goalkeeper, but he missed this opportunity through clumsiness. And it was in stoppage time that the Tunisians managed to equalise. Then, the penalty shootouts smiled on the MAS, which deserves this new coronation, which honours national football, in view of the whole match. Thanks to the MAS, which was able to make us forget for a moment the rout of Gerets' band.

Provider / Source : Libération