Tout Puissant Mazembe

The Cercle Sportif Sfaxien opponent of Mazembe in finals first leg in 17 days of C2, is it breathless? While the TPM sent CS Don Bosco back to its studies (4-0), Tunisians have bitten the dust in Tozeur, beaten 2-1 by this small club with the poetic name of "The Sports Palme". Here's how our colleague "La Presse" chronicles the surprise of the weekend came from the edge of the Sahara.

"The iron pot against the clay pot? Football sometimes subjects to these stunning surprises and generally bears the label of a hero. Nizar AISSAOUI, the athletic and former striker of Grombalia Sport has eaten sunday the defense of Tunisia Champion by passing a superb double on two guns that sent the guys of DJerid into paradise.

Despite greater undeniable technical mastery of visitors, who monopolized the ball more often and took control of the game, the biggest desire was Sunday in green and yellow. And this is especially the defense, with gladiators BACHA and BOUHOUCH in mind, which bore the weight of the match, neutralizing the natural ascending of the men of Ruud KROL. But at the end, class and power AISSAOUI , a true force of nature, made ​​the difference, giving La Palme a historic success , the first of its young history in League 1 ...

... The first half was a long period of observation just marked by strikes on the crossbar of Fakhreddine BEN YOUSSEF (30') .

Upon resumption, the game is gaining in intensity. At 58', the visiting goalkeeper Rami JERIDI is forced to exit in disaster at 25m to save by head before AISSAOUI. Two minutes later, Khemaies THAMRI is supplemented by his crossbar on a ball by Sfaxien Ghazi CHELLOUF.

After an attempt by head from Ben Youssef receiving a crossing ball forward by YOUSSUFU, this is the first turn of the game. Launched by Fakher MANSOURI, from a tight angle on the left side, almost on the sideline  AISSAOUI delivers a shot that leaves speechless JERIDI (63') ... then Settles a suffocating siege of wood Tozeur, even more suffocating than Wajdi Bouazzi, which was first released in black and white, was seated left to substitute HANNACHI injured . The former "Blood and Gold" will be very valuable in a work percussion, overflowing and crossing the ball forward of which one had frightened. This was smartly addressed on the head of Ziad Derbali beating unstoppable Thamri (85'). An equalizer is designed and materialized by two former Esperance de Tunis.

Then, at the last minute, a new and counter the unthinkable happens! AISSAOUI makes for a second time the defense of CSS kneel down. Almost a replica of the first goal. This means that they were dozing somewhere in the ranks of Sfax defense.

Four days after a fetched success (1-0) against the OB the men of Ruud KROL confirm their loss of power. A matter of freshness probably because the sequence of matches in the CAF Confederation Cup and of League 1 starts to produce its effect. Not to mention the double controversy that will follow on strike midweek observed by buddies of Maâloul and contingencies which are accumulated forced KROL and his deputy, Daou * ..."

Note also that the leaders of the CSS had decided after the game to rally Sfax via an internal flight to avoid fatigue  to players for the first team. The Cssistes then close to disaster as a failure of a reactor took place and the pilot had to turn around and return to Tozeur to avoid  crash ...

Sfax has aligned the following team: JERIDI - YOUSSUFU, MAÂLOUL (cap.), DERBALI, BOULAABI - N'DONG, SASSI (LOUATI 77’), CHELLOUF, HANNACHI (BOUAZZI 55') - BEN YOUSSEF, KOUYAYE (KHENISSI 55')

(* Both coaches CSS are simultaneously at the head of the Tunisian team )