Club Africain broke Esperance du Tunis’ 18-match unbeaten run in Tunisia’s Ligue 1 with a 2-1 win in “Derby Tunis” played at Stade Olympique d’EL Mezah Stadium, Tunis Sunday.
Esperence will face Mauritania’s ASAC Concorde at the same venue in the CAF Champions League preliminary round return match Wednesday in their next assignment.
Anis Ben-Hatira put the Tunisian Premier League log leaders in the lead in the 8th minute – capitalizing on a poor clearance to ignite the home crowd.
But Wissem Ben Yahia managed to restore order on the stroke of half time with a glancing header to tie the high paced game 1-1 at the breather.
The visitors got the winner in the 68th minute through Tijani Belaid’s sumptuous free-kick.
Esperance were reduced to ten-men in the 66th minute following Chamseddine Dhaouadi’s dismissal for second bookable offence.
They keep the league’s top spot on 44 points – eight off second placed Club Africain.
The 27-times Tunisian champions turn their focus to Wednesday’s African Champions League preliminary round reverse game against ASAC Concorde of Mauritania.
Esperance rallied to hold the Islanders 1-1 in the first leg played a week back in the Island nation and will need a win or at least a barren draw to sail to the first round of the Africa’s top interclub competition.
