Tunisia overcame Panama 2-1 in their final 2018 World Cup match which was played at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk on Thursday night.
The hard-fought victory sees the Carthage Eagles end in third place in Group G, while Panama placed at the bottom of the table with three losses on their tournament debut.
The Canal Men led through Yassine Meriah’s own goal in the 33rd minute but Fakhreddine Ben Yousseff equalised in the 51st minute with Wahbi Khazri firing the Carthage Eagles into the lead 15 minutes later.
Tunisia created the first real chance of the game seven minutes in after winning the ball in midfield and breaking through Ferjani Sassi, although his low drive flashed the wrong side of the post.
Panama then looked destined to open the scoring with 11 minutes gone as Anibal Godoy broke to the by-line before cutting the ball back for Roman Toreess, only for the debutant to fail to make contact with the ball only six yards from a gaping net.
Wahbi Khazri thought to have opened the scoring in the 19th minute but his attempt was well saved by Jaime Penedo who made a sliding save to keep the ball out.
The Rennes striker again came close moments later after once more being played in by Bedoui but this time he saw his shot closed down point blank by the quick-thinking Jaime Pendo in the Canal Men’s goal.
It was then Panama’s chance to get their fans on their feet as Anibal Godoy waltzed through the Carthage Eagles area with too much ease, although he took far too long to get a shot off, allowing Hamdi Naguez the chance to make a vital tackle.
Ten minutes later, Panama claimed the lead through a slice of luck when Jose Rodriguez’s long-range effort took a wicked deflection off Yassine Meriah, who was credited with an own goal after the ball wrong-footed Mathlouthi and found the net.
Tunisia failed to convert in the 40th minute from a Rami Bedoui cross which Ferjani Sassi directed inches wide.
Maaloul’s charges began the second half with great energy, firing from all cylinders as they looked to go in front as early as possible.
And it took them only six minutes to get their combinations right when Fakhreddine Ben Youssef collected Khazri’s cross before sweeping home a shot from close range to make it 1-1.
The Carthage Eagles continued to overrun the Canal Men, but they were not holding back as Haddadi tested Pendo with a powerful left-footed attempt from inside the box.
Panama also had their chances, but they were often well dealt with by the Carthage Eagles’ defence.
They went close to taking the lead at the hour mark when Gabriel Torres collected a pass from Edgar Barcenas, before forcing Mathlouthi into a fine low save.
Tunisia eventually went ahead in the 66th minute when Haddadi played in Khazri with a delightful cross to turn home at the back post from close range.
Anice Baadri came to Carthage Eagles’ rescue late on, as the defender managed to clear a goal-bound effort off the line, after Mathlouthi had been lobbed.
Malaloul’s side managed to see out the final stages of the game, despite a late surge from the Panama.
How they lined-up:
Tunisia: Aymen Mathlouthi, Yassine Meriah, Oussama Haddadi, Rami Bedoui, Hamdi Naguez, Ferjani Sassi, Ellyes Skhiri, Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, Wahbi Khazri, Ghaylen Chaaleli, Naim Sliti
Panama: Jaime Pendo, Fidel Escobar, Roman Torres, Adolfo Machado, Luis Ovalle, Gabriel Gomez, Edgar Barcenas, Ricardo Avila, Anibal Godoy, Jose Rodriguez, Gabriel Torres.
