Espérance Tunis secured a vital win over their historic rivals Etoile du Sahel, clinching a 2-0 victory in the fiercely contested Classico of the Tunisian League’s seventh round.
The match, held on Sunday at the Olympic Stadium in Sousse, saw Espérance emerge triumphant on Etoile’s home ground, in front of a passionate crowd.
The game’s breakthrough came in the second half when Etoile’s defender Ziad Boughattas accidentally redirected a cross from Algerian winger Youssef Belaili into his own net, giving Espérance a 1-0 lead in the 63rd minute.
This own goal shifted the momentum, putting Etoile under pressure as they searched for an equalizer.
Espérance sealed their victory in the 88th minute with a goal from South African forward Elias Sipho Mokwana, who struck decisively to bring the score to 2-0.
Mokwana’s late goal ensured Espérance left Sousse with three points and an uplifted morale after a challenging series of recent performances.
With this win, Espérance broke their streak of three consecutive draws and one loss, bringing their total to 12 points and moving them into sixth place.
Meanwhile, Etoile du Sahel’s struggles continued, having now gone four matches without a win, with two draws and two losses.
They remain in 13th place with just five points.
In other league action, Espérance Zarzis edged out Bizertin with a late goal from Yousry Dhiflaoui in the 85th minute, securing a 1-0 victory.
Zarzis now sits second in the standings with 16 points, while Bizertin languishes in 14th with only four points.
Elsewhere, CS Sfaxien played to a goalless draw against Olympique Béji at the Taïb Mhiri Stadium.
Despite the stalemate, Olympique Béji retains their position atop the league with 17 points, though they have now registered two consecutive draws.
CS Sfaxien, with this third draw in a row, moves up to eighth place with 10 points.
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