Esperance reach Champions League final
Reuters - Sunday 17 October 2010, 21:49
TUNIS, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Tunisia's Esperance reached the
African Champions League final on Sunday for the first time in a
decade after scoring a controversial goal to overcome Egyptians
giants Al Ahli.
Esperance, whose 1-0 home win ensured victory on away goals
in the two-legged semi-final, will face defending champions TP
Mazembe Englebert of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the
final.
Esperance's goal came after just 50 seconds but was clearly
punched into the net by their Nigerian striker Michael Eneramo,
using his forearm to steer the ball goalward as he dived in at
the back post.
But Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey surprisingly let it
stand and Ahli's frustration boiled over just 20 minutes later
when Mohamed Barakat punched an opponent and was sent off.
The Cairo club were unable to conjure up a fightback and
having held a 2-1 lead from an equally tempestuous first leg
went out on the away goals rule
TP Mazembe held JS Kabylie of Algeria to a goalless draw in
a dull second leg of their semi-final in Tizi Ouzou on Saturday.
Mazembe's 3-1 lead from the first leg was rarely threatened.
They will host the first leg of the final in Lubumbashi on
Oct. 31 with the return in Tunis on November 13.