ES Setif have qualified for the final four of the 2021/22 African Champions League after they defeated Esperance de Tunis 1-0 at the Olympic Stadium in Rades on Friday night.
The win sees the Algeria’s Setif qualify for the semi-finals after winning the tie on the same margin on aggregate, while Tunisian giants Esperance bow out of the tournament.
Setif will play either Raja Casablanca or Al Ahly in the semifinal. The Egyptians hold a 2-1 aggregate lead heading into the reverse fixture in Casablanca later tonight.
Esperance de Tunis dominated the opening exchanges but failed to get things going in the final third.
And it was ES Setif who created the first opportunity of the half in the 13th minute, as Riyad Benayad struck the upright from 12-yards out, before Raed El Fadaa cleared the rebound off the line.
Benayad was proving to be tough to handle for the Esperance’s defence and he come close in the 18th minute, as he curled one inches over the upright from a tight angle.
Three minutes later, the deadlock was final broken when Abdelmoumene Djabou waded past the keeper to tap into an empty net after being fed by brilliant Riyad Benayad through ball after he pickpocketed Abdelkader Bedrane at the edge of the box.
Esperance were in control in the closing stages of the half and almost netted an equalizer in the 41st minute but Ben Romdhane failed to steer his header on target from close range.
Sofiane Khedairia was called into action in the 50th minute as he pulled off a stunning save to keep Anayo Iwuala’s powerful header.
Ilyes Cheti came close to grabbing an equaliser in the in the 59th minute as his thunderous effort from distance crashed against the upright.
Fousseny Coulibaly should have equalised in the 65th minute but the defender headed wide of the mark from six-yards out.
Moez Ben Cherifia came to Esperance rescue in 75th minute as he did well to keep out Amir Karaou’s close range effort.
David Koffi could have secured a draw in stoppage time. The winger managed to create space in the box, before blazing over the crossbar from 12-yards out.
