Tunisia’s Esperance reach African Champions League semi-final

Defending champions Esperance moved into the semi-finals of the African Champions League with a 2-0 victory over fellow Tunisians Etoile du Sahel.

Monday, August 20, 2012
Etoile du Sahel supporters interrupted the match.

Defending champions Esperance moved into the semi-finals of the African Champions League with a 2-0 victory over fellow Tunisians Etoile du Sahel.The match, which was played in front of Etoile supporters only, was interrupted by pitch invasions after both goals and police used tear gas to disperse people from the pitch.Karim Aouadhi scored the opener in the 41st minute, while Yanick N’Djeng’s 74th-minute goal sealed the victory for Esperance, who hail from Tunis, to extend their unbeaten run in the competition to 20 matches spanning two seasons.Elsewhere in Group A, AS Chlef lost 2-1 to visiting Sunshine Stars of Nigeria on Friday evening - a result that means the Algerians cannot advance to the semi-finals of the African Champions League.Sunshine lead Etoile by three points, while Chlef have now lost all four of their group matches so far and remain bottom of the table without a single point.Sunshine took the lead against AS Chlef on the stroke of half-time as Cameroonian Medrano Tamen finished off a counter-attack by the Nigerian side.The hosts equalised shortly after the break through another Cameroonian Anicet Eyenga but Chlef’s hopes of a win ended when Sabri Gharbi was sent off in the 65th minute.Just seven minutes later Akombo Ukeyima fired the ball into the roof of the net to seal the win for the Nigerian side.Agencies