Etoile du Sahel have secured a seeded spot in the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League following a 2-0 win over FC Platinum at the Olympic Stadium in Rades on Saturday night.
The result sees the Tunisian club advance as the winners of Group B, joining Al Ahly (who drew 1-1 with Al Hilal in Omdurman in a concurrent clash) in next week’s draw.
Etoile dominated from early on but a lack of patience and precision in attack meant they created few clear chances with which to test Platinum goalkeeper Francis Tizayi in the first half.
The Zimbabweans spent most of the time camped in their own half, looking to frustrate the hosts and use their pace and athleticism to catch Etoile out on the counter attack.
However, ESS gradually settled into a determined rhythm and they were rewarded early in the second half when Karim Aribi turned home an assist from Iheb Msakni to break the deadlock.
The Algerian forward in the process became the first player to score 10 goals in a Champions League campaign since Emmanuel Clottey in 2012.
The second goal for the Tunisian hosts arrived in the 72nd minute, with midfielder Malek Baayou firing home a superb long-range strike to effectively end the game as a contest.
ESS looked set to finish second in the group, but news of a late equaliser for Hilal in Omdurman ensured their tally of 12 points topped the 11 of Al Ahly.
Etoile: Bediri, Hannachi (Brigui 80’), Boughattas, El Jemal, Sallemi, Baayou (Belhaj Mahmoud 83’), Ben Amor, Lahmar (Coulibaly 72’), Msakni, Ben Ouanes, Aribi
Platinum: Tizayi, Muduviwa (Stima 87’), Tendayi, Mhlanga, Chikore, Madzongwe, Kutsanzira, Pavari, Mbweti (Jesi 63’), Nsiala (Chikwende 70’), Ngala



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